By Rita Okoye
Versatile actress and filmmaker Aisha Lawal is a well-known figure in Nollywood, whose career has evolved , from her early days in YouTube productions to her current work on big-screen movies. Lawal also reveals how she’s managed to maintain a scandal-free career in Nigeria’s competitive movie industry. Enjoy!
It is believed that you took a break from acting some time ago. What happened?
I didn’t take a break. I went to have my children; I intentionally stopped doing some YouTube jobs. I wanted to carve a niche for my brand and focus more on big screens rather than small screens.
What has been the difference so far?
It’s been good; it’s been encouraging and rewarding. I have more time for my family, and I can dedicate myself to my job. My efforts are more rewarded. It’s not just hard work, but the blessing of God. I have branched into various areas because I have more time on my hands, allowing me to be involved in quality movies and produce big screen films myself. It’s truly rewarding, and I love it. Seeing myself in major films is incredible, and it’s still acting, after all.
How did you develop versatility?
I try to branch into different characters and take on more challenging roles. If someone calls me for a girlfriend or housewife role, which I find less challenging, I tend to decline since I’ve done that before.
What do you like most about acting?
It’s my passion. While some people enjoy being able to portray any character, I have a deep love for acting. I truly enjoy it.
How long did it take you to start earning as an actress? Some up-and-coming actors get discouraged when the money isn’t coming in early…
That took about two years. I joined the industry in 2008, and by 2010/11, I was already earning money. I was focused on YouTube, which is why I was everywhere. However, after getting married, I reduced my workload.
How have you been able to juggle personal life and career demands?
I try to work smart and manage my workload effectively.
What does Nollywood need to do to position itself better in the global film industry?
I think we’re making progress; there isn’t much more to be done at this point. We are producing blockbuster movies while paying more attention to details. I’m going to Qatar soon for an award, and I frequently travel to the UK. I can confidently say we’re being recognized. I’ve had foreigners at the airport tell me they saw my movie, which is quite impressive. We will get there.
What interests you most about the industry now, compared to before?
The industry is receiving the recognition it deserves. There’s a growing market now, and when there’s a market, you get paid better.
There’s been criticism about the recycling of faces in movies. What’s your take on that?
May I ask those people criticizing that thing just one question? Will they be happy if they sacked them in their offices because some people graduated from the university? They should make it make sense. The beauty of the thing is, bring in new generations with medium generation, and old generation. That is quite understandable. And then when you want to shoot a movie, there are some roles that you know are meant for the veterans. I’ll not go and bring somebody that just graduated from the university to play that role. The only thing you can attack people for is, if they use Femi Adebayo as a university boy, that’s not nice. But if I put Gabriel in university role, I can still do it, normally he has youthful appearance; he will pass. Do you understand? So you cannot criticize us, are they serious? Should we start selling fish instead?
What would you say to someone entering the industry who wants to remain scandal-free like you?
I try to stay away from social media as much as possible. I don’t seek validation from others. What you think of me doesn’t define me; if you think I’m poor, that’s alright. I prefer not to post my personal life on social media. You’ll never see my siblings or my husband online because my husband doesn’t like it. We don’t live for social media; we live for ourselves. I value my privacy, and I have that.
Why is it important for celebrities to keep their private lives away from the public eye?
It is to maintain privacy. A friend once asked me if I don’t feel the urge to share my personal life online, but I believe it is a matter of choice; it depends on the individual.
What’s your perception of the presence of streaming platforms in Nollywood?
Streaming platforms have greatly benefited us, even though we face some issues. They challenge producers to elevate their capabilities, think outside the box, and create blockbuster films. We’ve sold movies for over a million dollars. Personally, I sold a movie for five hundred thousand dollars. I invested close to N380 million on set for my last production because I knew it would sell. The streaming platforms have done wonders for us.
One wouldn’t have thought that the Yoruba film sector could achieve this a few years ago. What changed?
I saw this coming. I told people it was a gold mine. I said that once we hit the jackpot, everyone would be impressed because we have a large market. ‘Yoruba po now’, it’s a very big deal; we have the market, so if Bollywood and Chinese movies have the market, what’s stopping us? I knew we were going to do well. I was one of the people that knew it was going to be like this. When I started watching Game of Thrones, I kept saying, we need movies like this. I saw it coming, but I didn’t know when it was going to happen.