Uzor Arukwe opens up on working with Funke Akindele, calling each role a blessing and Akindele a demanding teacher

Nollywood actor Uzor Arukwe told E-Splash that every call from filmmaker and actress Funke Akindele is a blessing, and that he treats her praise as something he would gladly put on a CV.

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Mr Arukwe said Ms Akindele often commends his acting and shows that she values his work. He also said she is demanding on set and expects actors to know their job.

He called her one of the best filmmakers in the industry and a good teacher, and said he tries to learn whenever they share a production.

“Every time Funke Akindele calls me, it’s always a blessing. She’s always commending my acting skills, saying she loves my work, and then I felt like putting down her words on my CV. It’s always a privilege every time she calls me for a movie role. She’s one of the best filmmakers and a great teacher, but one thing about her is that she doesn’t have patience for those who don’t know how to act,” he said.

The remarks add a working actor’s view of a producer whose films still set commercial pace in Nollywood. Ms Akindele’s reputation for tight control and high output is well known.

Mr Arukwe’s account fits that picture: warmth for those who arrive prepared, little patience for those who do not.

He did not list every title they have made together in the published excerpt, nor did Ms Akindele issue a reply in this interview.

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What he offered was a clear professional note. He wants the work. He values the compliment. He accepts that the classroom on her set is not gentle.