Adeleye Adeshile aka Kuti is an actor who does Yoruba and also English-speaking movie if needed. He speaks with Osho Oluwatosin on what drew him into acting and, among other things, his greatest regret
How has it been since you started acting?
Well, it has been stressful, gainful. It hasn’t been very easy, we get to face challenges but being a man, I’ve been able to scale through. We just have to manage ourselves.
So far, what have been the challenges?
If I want to start mentioning the challenges I’ve encountered in the movie industry, I won’t be able to finish all. But the irony of the whole thing is that I’ve faced so many and I’ve been trying to avoid so many too. But to God be the glory, I was able to manage it all; though it hasn’t been easy. So many ridicules, talkaway, back-bites, so much mockery; that’s why I said I don’t want to go into details. But I thank God.
How do you see the issue of piracy in this industry?
Well, I think piracy is part of us already. I think we haven’t been able to manage piracy the way we ought to. I think we should have people in charge of controlling all those things but our industry is so large, they didn’t discover any loophole that will help us manage these pirate people, so I think we can manage it if our marketers are really ready to work along with actors. It can be reduced through marketers. They should look at the rate at which they are doing their mass production. Or we also can do much movies, and bring down the prices because viewers love to go for cheaper movies. If the marketers can reduce the price, increase their outlets, it will control piracy.
Take us through your educational line.
I read small ooooo. I studied civil engineering at YABATECH, and proceeded to LASPOTECH to study insurance in 2001. And I moved to LASU, where I had my B.Sc in Economics and right now, I’m doing a mature course in England.
Looking at the courses you studied, what led you into acting?
Well, you know the Nigerian situation; unemployment was so tough on us then, though the present government is working on that. But back then when we graduated, we found it so hard to secure a job so I went into modeling and I was able to cross over to acting because I’ve always wanted to be a T.V Person.
Who do you look up to in the industry?
My boss is one of them, Antar Laniyan. I like Ramsey Nouah, I love all the ladies too.
How do you handle your female fans?
Well, they are my fans. I can’t do without them, I try to give them more attention. Even when I was passing through hurdles, I still tryiedto create time for them because without them, there will be no me.
Since you’ve started your career, what is the worst scenario that you found yourself?
The worst scenario was the day I went to a location to shoot a movie, thinking the producer was going to treat me right. But after the shooting, the person gave me just peanuts and I was highly disappointed in the person. I wouldn’t blame the person because I didn’t negotiate before coming. But I expected him to do more than that. That is the worst thing that has happened and it’s still paining me till now.
Who are those you’ve worked with and those you would love to work with?
I’ve worked with almost everybody but the most painful thing is I wasn’t able to work with the late Bukky Ajayi.