To Yul, he owes a huge part of his success story to his fellow actor, Nonso Diobi, but expressed worries that they no longer relate again like before, ostensibly due to their busy schedules.
In a recent interview the happily married father of three revealed what marriage at the age of 22 deprived him of. He also spoke on other sundry issues.
You and Nonso Diobi seems to be so close, what’s the connection?
Good question! Nonso has always been my very good friend. He really helped me a lot when I was coming up. Then I used to come from the East to Lagos, because he relocated to Lagos before me. I slept in his house a couple of times. He gave me shelter as a brother. He was always there to advise me on how to go about a couple of things.
However, these days, we are all busy trying to make a living and forgetting to keep in touch. But in all, I think we are still very good friends.
You think?
We are still as cool as we used to be, nothing went wrong. It is just tight schedules. If something went wrong, I am not aware because I can be very carefree. If someone offends me or pisses me off, I just tell them my mind and let it go. If anyone has anything against me, I am not aware of it. I still strongly believe that we are very cool as we used to be.
I respect Nonso Diobi. He helped me a lot. He got into the industry before me and also helped me to get up there. We also live in same environment in Lekki.
You got married at 22, after that did you miss bachelorhood?
At that point, I thought I really missed a lot. Whenever I hang out with my friends, just little time outside, I’ll start getting calls. My wife wants me home, there is no gas or some food stuffs and I have to go get them. At that time, it was really getting me pissed off. But with time, I got used to it. In general, I didn't really miss so much.
What was the biggest challenge you conquered to get this far?
The biggest fear and challenge was being successful, because I really wanted to show what I have got. The struggle wasn't easy. They were lots of talented actors there before me and I just had to carve a niche for myself. It wasn't easy at all. Some people had thought that I got to the industry with the influence of my father. They believed he paved way for me to take after him. But no! I really wanted to be an actor because I know I am good at it not because of my father. Making people believe in me was my biggest challenge.
What if your son decides to take after you too?
I don’t mind, at all, as long as he has the passion. I am not going to groom him to take over from me. I am only going to make sure they go to the best of schools. If any them want to be an actor, I can’t object. The choice is theirs. The movie industry is not an easy place to be, you will take some sh*ts, lots of insults, and what have you but what keeps you moving is the passion. They shouldn't do it for the money but for the passion.
As some point in 2006, I tried my hands in directing. After that two, I didn't see any movie to direct again. Those periods were the worse time of my career. The films weren't really coming. I was married and my wife just put to bed to our first child and there was no money. It was so tough that I had to try my hands in other things aside acting but i never gave up because I had the passion. I love my career.
What is your advice for the up and coming acts?
It takes time to get to the top. It also involves lots of hard work. Don’t rush. No rush in life. We are all still going to die someday. No matter how long you live in this life, you are still going to be dead longer than that, so why be so desperate. Whatever you are doing, do it for the passion and not the money. The money is going to come in due time. Even when the money starts coming, don’t just start increasing your fees because others are earning higher. Increase your output and your fees would automatically go up. Don’t hype yourself when you are nothing. Hard work pays and takes you to the next level.
What is your philosophy of life?
Do unto others the same way you want them to do unto you. I pray that there would be peace in this life, especially our country. We are all going to die some day, then why kill people like you are going to live forever. If you bomb houses and you hide, it is because you don’t want to be killed too, then why do it in the first place. Live and let’s live!
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