For Bimbo Akintola, Nollywood is no longer what it used to be. The veteran actress believes that the new generation of filmmakers are more focused on chasing perfect bodies than perfecting their craft.
In a recent interview with actress Ayo Adesanya, Akintola compared her generation of filmmakers to the current one.
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She argued that early Nollywood was built on passion, hard work, and a deep respect for storytelling, rather than glamour and superficial appeal.
Akintola drew on examples of established filmmakers such as Sola Sobowale and Joke Silva, noting that their commitment to the profession was “pure and unwavering.”
She explained that the old guard entered the industry ready to push themselves to the limit, mostly working through sleepless nights to bring characters and stories to life.
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But in her view, that dedication has been overshadowed in today’s Nollywood by a culture of vanity.
She lamented that younger actresses now often refuse roles or delay shoots because they are unhappy with their makeup, wardrobe, or overall appearance.
“And every person that we met in the industry was so passionate, even Aunty Joke and Aunty Shola were so passionate about the work. You had people working overnight and not sleeping. Who is talking about food? 12 or 14 working hours? You work till the next day and till you finish.
“It wasn’t about glamour. Our work is reality, sometimes we reflect life back at society. I think you still get that passion when you do stage. You still see people that just want to do their best in front of the audience.
She added, “People now say ‘No, my make up is not right for this’, ‘I can’t wear this’. We are more concerned about our look. Which is why there is a spike in BBL. Because everybody is ‘BBLing.’ They are more concerned about their look rather than the content.”
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