‘I’ve had to slap my Father’- Femi Adebayo

Femi Adebayo is one of the popular actors in Nollywood and has been able to endear himself to many with his skillful interpretation of roles. The actor, who has also jumped on the bandwagon of actors-writer-producer, spoke to Movie Moments on some of his movie projects as well as his family.

How was 2012 for you?

To God be the glory that we actually saw the beginning of the 2012 and we saw the end. I will say authoritatively that 2012 was my year because it is exceptional most especially in my career and my standard of living.  Also let me note that there have been challenges as well but in all I can say I secured 80% of achievements and 20% of challenges in 2012. 

I am hoping the 2013 is going to be greater for me and my entire family as well as the movie industry in general.

Can you be specific about some of this achievement?

The first thing that comes to the mind is the numerous awards that I received and that alone depicts the fact that I am appreciated in the industry where I serve. In terms of personal belongings, I got for myself two cars amounting to N9.5 million which I am proud to own.  I have also been able to increase my fan base considering my role in Jelili, a moviethat projected other sides of me. Another point is that 2012 was when I shot one of the biggest project so far in my career which is Tribal Mark (Ila) to be showed in cinemas this year.

Why did you tag the movie your biggest project?

It’s indeed a big project because I made use of some the biggest and expensive equipment that I have never used since I ventured into acting. Another thing is the fantastic story line, the cast and crew members are wonderful people. I am very sure that when the movie comes out, I am going to secure another landmark.

What were the challenges faced?

Like I said earlier nothing good comes easy and as such the challenge faced in 2012 was on my new pet project because it took close to four month before I could complete the script, gathering the cast was another issue because I wanted to make use of the best hands in the industry. One major challenge also was the weather because in some of the locations slated for the production; we had heavy rain for three days.

With all these challenges, can you share some of the terrible moments?

Although it has been happening before now but it was actually the first time for me to experience such; I was shooting my movie and some sets of touts disturbed our production requesting for money which I did gave them; but to my surprise they came back the fifth day saying the money we gave them has expired so we need to renew another payment. So for the first time, I had to come out to face them; although I was afraid from inside because they were throwing stones at us, breaking bottles. At the end of the show that lasted for close to 40min, some security operative came to our rescue and got them arrested.

You were reported to have been robbed off 10million naira in 2012, how true is this and how were you able to recover from the blow?

Yes, it was true, I was attacked my some group of robbers around Sango-Ota, they took away my car and some valuable items worth 8Mllion naira but thank God I was able to track and recover the car but other items were gone. The funniest thing was that the robbers recognized me and they were like Jelili I won ni, oya dobale which I rightly obeyed and I guess recovering the vehicle covered up.

What should be expected from you this year?

Expect nothing but the best from me; I still want to score high in the industry like what Jelili movie did. I am not relenting in all my efforts. My prayer is that the Almighty should crown my effort.

You are a Muslim by birth, how well do your practice your religion?

My sister, this is one of the things I want to correct in 2013, I need to go deep into religion, do more of Islam practice and most especially go for the pilgrimage because this very important for me. Islam is a religion of peace and that I must preach.

With the success of comedy flick, Jelili, what did you gain?

Well, to the glory of God, Jelili like you rightly said, it’s a success and it’s not my best because the best is yet to come. I’ve worked on a couple of projects and they are yet to be out. But the next movie after Jelili is a complete story about the life of butchers. And the movie has got to the completion stage. It’s going to be in the cinema very soon. And we’ve submitted it for several awards and to the glory of God. It’s entitled Sonto Alapata and already it has three to four nominations in the most anticipated award, Best of Nollywood Awards (BON). It’s a totally different package from Jelili because it’s a comic-tragedy movie.

While shooting Jelili, did you foresee the success it recorded?

To be honest, I never envisaged it was going to be a huge success as this but I knew it was going to be a success because I know people would actually be seeing me playing a different role which was going to shock them.

Virtually everyone in the family of Adebayo has one or two things to do with movie, is it a must in your family?

Definitely we all in my household are into movie. We are more than six. I’m an actor, a writer and a producer. My brother, Tope Adebayo, is a director and is a producer as well. Sodiq Adebayo is a production manager and a producer. Daddy is a producer and actor. Rilwan Adebayo is an editor and our mummy is a marketer.

Any plan of you allowing any of your children going into acting profession
if they are comfortable with doing what I am into, then no problem, I will also give them the support given to me by my father. How is like when you direct your father in a movie, or both of you act in scenes you have to beat him up
My dear, work is entirely different from father to son. On the field, we are totally different. We drop being family when we are at work. There were scenes that I acted as an armed robber and went to rob my father, and I had to slap him and also had to do it well.

There is this rumour that all seems not be well between you and your wife?

I have corrected this times without number that all is good between me and wife, Almighty God has always been watching over us and he is still doing that. Thank God you are also clarifying this as well. I’m doing fine with my job, she also is doing pretty cool and kids are fine.