Film producers from Nigeria

"I want to encourage you to work hard, believe in yourself and never rely on others for validation."

"You can’t force talent or do something simply because someone else is doing it."

"Now is not the time to stay silent and the youths must overcome."

"We need to shoot more movies that promote and celebrate our culture. Right now, it should be all about presenting our stories to the Western world. I think Nollywood needs to shoot more indigenous, historical movies to tell our stories like ‘Sango’ and all of that. We can change the Nigerian narrative through our films. I believe Nigerian filmmakers have a lot of power in their hands to change our society and even hold our politicians accountable."

"I draw inspiration from happenings around me. I could get an idea and when I am in the bathroom taking a shower I develop it. Later on maybe during a massage, I could give the concept a deeper thought."

"Build a proper structure for yourself and your brand. Get an office, a good website, social media presence, business name etc."

"Everyone makes mistakes, but admit your own before you point out someone else’s."

"Nollywood should get ready for the new faces. Working with young people has really touched my life; so, anytime I hear that they have something new to work on, I quickly jump on it and support them."

"I encourage young ladies out there that are in a hurry to get married, that are pressured to get married. Calm down, take your time, If you rush in, you will rush out.Also marriage is all about marrying your friend"

"It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation. Originality is key."

"It’s not having the skill to do something. It’s about having the will, desire and commitment to be your best."

"As the highest-grossing filmmaker in Nigeria and a reputable actress, I’m proof that hard work and determination can take you far"

"This week – and always – walk as if you know who you are"

""You are golden, intelligent, worthy, powerful, strong, beautiful, and you never doubt it. You must stand tall, take up space. Never shrink. Never apologize for your greatness," she declared."

"Funke is like a mother, she has that mother figure in her. She cares a lot about people around her."

"Nothing good comes easy."

"Working with her was a masterclass, not just as an actress, but also on how to conduct yourself as a creative."

"“Money is not an end, Value is the end. Focus on adding value to the society and money will follow”."

"“I followed my passion”."

"“Finding my passion has really helped me, I go to work not thinking I am working”."

"I'm a woman of faith, but what I found in Nigeria is that a lot of people have increasingly been driven into this crazy love for worshipping men instead of God."

"And a lot of men are turning this spiritual institution into commerce and they are using it for personal gains."

"I am a student of literature and history. I believe that art is a powerful tool for us in our society to use, to depict all the things that are going on, and a possible escape for some of us who are traumatized by the things we see in Nigeria."

"So in directing over the past 10 years, I understand how to make a connection with people. This is because what’s often lacking in a lot of productions is the ability to connect. So, once the emotions are not there and people can’t feel what you are saying, you have lost the audience."

"The resources we have as a Nation is not what is critical, what is critical is the development of the human mind. The creative mind is the most important resource tool in any nation."

"There is no laziness in any business, that wants to succeed."

"Even though your family and friends discourage you, and you know where you're going, keep your focus and surround yourself with positive minds."

"You're bound to meet a lot of stumbling blocks, and you’re bound to fail at certain things, but the number of times you fail is not the issue, it is the number of times you pick yourself up, dust yourself and continue your journey."

"Relevance itself is wealth, it's a quality and a value. Time buys you relevance, time buys you greatness, time buys you money. So you must stay in the vision and with time, you would reap the benefits."

"You should be sure of who you are and who your partner is. That is the first thing and be sure that the love is enough to pull you through."

"The greatest lesson I learnt about marriage is to be patient, you don't talk all the time. You've got to do more of listening than talking."

""Managing and maintaining an almost scandal-free reputation has been the grace of God because we all are not created perfect and as such we just manage to be our self and be of the best behavior. I just feel being an actor opens you up to controversies, scandals, and all that. Maybe I’ve just been lucky.”"

"As a grown-up little child, I always had the flare for the arts. I just wanted to sing in front of people, dramatize and make people happy and laugh. For me, it was an escape as a little child because I was quite a very shy one"

"I have done my part. It is time for God to do His."

"I just don’t want to be too careful when I’m dressing. It takes away from the carriage."

"The bag of knowledge I gathered from my early days in the industry brought me back on track. It’s not been easy."

"You have to be patient and tolerant."

"Three rooms in a house – one in which a man believes he is king; two in which he realizes a woman is god!"

"I was awesome. It was difficult at first; I like being truthful. At the initial stage, it was difficult because even though it was still from the entertainment industry, we were coming from two backgrounds as it were, the music and the acting. They are used to things being snappy"

"From the get go, it was a beautiful script, so I didn’t object to anything. First we had the first draft which we did a reading for. You know when you read a story; it’s one writer, maximum two or three writers."

"Hello, ‘wetin you take old pass me?’ I think it’s because I started off just after I left secondary school, thank God my parents let me do it. Because you see actors everyday on screen, the more you see them, the older they become, and it gets worse for us that get married."

"I miss everything about her. My mum was my best friend."

""I feel as if I’m punishing myself. I am being restricted because I have to stay a Christian but this is what I enjoy doing”"

"Luckily for me, I knew him before I got into the movie industry, so there was some sort of understanding and support from him, so it was very easy and he was always encouraging me."

"Honestly, you don’t have to stop because you can balance both but not with the same speed. So you can be a mum, wife and work as well, though it is not easy but it is important to do it."

"Yes, it is my choice, let me clarify that I don’t do that in the real sense of it but I get around it. My focus is always like, what am I telling the people and viewers watching.""

"For every mountain, you brought me over…For every trial, you’ve seen me through…For every blessing…Hallelujah."

"I don’t like talking about my personal life. My age is not known to the public and I am not revealing it because I see no reason to."

"Although it has been tough raising them, I have been able to handle it, sometimes with the help of my siblings when I’m not available to be with them."

"Focus more on yourself, on improving yourself, of being a good person yourself. Focus on you liking yourself, do you like who you are? Be the best you can be and do not wish to be like anyone else.”"

"Majority of people that messed up their lives end up becoming wasted... There are exceptions though... So I am not the one punishing men in my novels, life treats them accordingly."

"There have been more than 70 studies done on my books at various levels of education-NCE, Bachelors, Masters, Diploma etc. Many of these students are fascinated that Hausa writers have such great ideas... This is great that we contribute in positive ways to our society’s attitudinal change and by extension national development. Writers are diamonds. We crystalize societies."

"I am not disputing the fact that some writers have crossed boundaries in their writings. Yes, some have gone the extra mile to be explicit. That is very, very wrong. I hope they will stop one day. But why are people only worried about Hausa novels? What about the English and other literature in which many things that shouldn’t be told are written bare! I advise parental control over reading."

"We are Muslims and we have rules in Islam for marriage and so on. But sometimes, our culture dominates the religious dictates and culture and religion are different. So, I fight because I want to stress that culture and religion are different. Probably that is why I'm called a controversial writer."

"...I tackle issues that some people and writers are afraid to talk about. Before, some old people like my mother's age mates think that their husbands are second to their God but I let them know that their husband is their mate, friend and whatever. Before, it was not like that and because that belief is still dominant in the northern states, whenever you touch that area, men don't like it."

"I don't buy the idea of early marriage because I had to push myself to understand the little English I'm speaking with you. If I hadn't pushed myself, I wouldn't have understood any English. I really desire our daughters in the North to be well educated. I have only two daughters and I want them to have quality education."

"Just as Yakubu fought her way to getting an education and becoming a successful writer, she isn’t one to wait for ideal writing conditions."

"We are talking about a woman who realized early on in life that she had to be improvisational in her approach to life. In spite of a really rough start, she went on to help invent the Soyyaya literary phenomenon."

"Royal Arts Academy will contribute to the transformation, development and growth of Nigeria and the African continent as a whole, by offering first class training to students who would go on to produce excellent films that would place Nollywood at par with the international community. This training will be provided by industry professionals within and outside the country."

"I’m very happy doing what I’m doing. I have strong passion for it. And whenever I finish a movie and come across people who are enjoying my movies, I always feel elated."

"This is my first time to do a true life story. It was challenging for me. We spent weeks doing research in the creeks of Bayelsa, learning the culture of the people. My choice of cast fit the character in reality."

"Every country should respect its own local industry. We must look for ways to help Nigerians who put in a lot of hard work whether as cast or crew members. Their hope is to be able to earn a living from the sacrifices and efforts they put into supporting the production of the movies the Nigerian audience consume."

"As a way of saying thank you to my people, I have decided to film my next huge project in Uyo to continue in our contributions towards the development and growth of the movie industry in Akwa Ibom and indeed Nollywood."

"Enjoy the little things in life, because one day you’ll look back, and realize they were the big things."

"Special Jollof is just a love story set in the background of immigration, the problems immigrants go through and this preconceived notion that every immigrant is involved in illegal activities. This movie is actually different from what I normally do and because it is a well talked about issue worldwide at the moment, causing concern for world leaders."

"Remuneration for creatives in Nigeria is a far cry from what their counterparts receive abroad. Hollywood and other established film industries are much older and sophisticated than Nollywood and therefore would reward their practitioners better.""

"Shooting this movie was very challenging but also fun. One of the major challenges we faced was finding foreign actors, so, I had to hold an audition but thank God, the turnout was really impressive. Another challenge was finding locations and getting people to open up to you. I was new to that terrain, so, it was quite challenging for me.”"

"Life at 50, nothing has changed. It is still the same me. But mentally, I’m more matured. I have learned to be more humble. Humility pays. People you don’t even know; knows you and watch all your moves. I’m not a gym person, I eat anything but I drink water a lot. That’s my beauty secret."

"I think I have come of age. What I’m trying to say is that I’ve learnt a lot of lessons along the line. I believe in the aphorism that the more you grow, the older you become, the more experienced you would be. Sometimes you read certain things that if you check your life, you could actually pick one or two things that are happening in your own life and you learn a lot on how to handle similar situations."

"Women are naturally mothers and I think it works easy because it comes naturally. We just have to take care of our kids even when we have to work."

"Nothing in life is worth committing suicide over. It is said that when there is life, there is hope. For most people who reached that bridge of almost taking their lives, they eventually thank God that they did not take that plunge. The only thing that is constant is change. You may not have today, but you would have tomorrow."

"When it comes to people in unhappy marriages saying they want to commit suicide, I don’t subscribe to it. If you are not happy in your marriage, the best thing to do is get out of it. However, it is a bit unfortunate that these days, we are no longer as tolerant as our parents before us. Maybe because of the advent of social media, things travel so fast, and we no longer tolerate each other. There are a lot of things that can be overlooked but these days, it doesn’t happen like that. Nobody wants to take the pain to be in a marriage or relationship and stick with their partner’s shortcomings."

"If marriage doesn’t come, one would still live one’s life. It is not a do-or-die affair, and not everybody would get married. When people get married and stay in it, I consider them lucky. These days, marriages don’t last. When one hears the things happening everywhere, getting ‘entangled’ would be scary. People that are not married still live happily."

"Life is not how people see it in movies or on social media. When one’s life is centred around social media, one may start to think that one has a problem. However, it shouldn’t be a do-or-die affair. One can aspire to be more than what one sees. Some people’s lives have been messed up because of social media. They have no understanding of reality again. They believe that living a fake life is is the real thing. They just follow people blindly, not knowing that nobody’s life is perfect."

"On the other hand, some people are friends and lovers, and it works out well for them. Marriage only makes it official and strengthens the commitment."

"I had a great time in Dubai when I went on vacation."

"I don’t really know much about their culture but I know it’s a Muslim country and they take their religion very seriously. I also noticed that they don’t easily mix with foreigners, especially black people."

"If you want to travel anywhere, be it within the country or outside, make sure you have enough money. Also, if you are travelling abroad, make sure your documents are correct and you are travelling through the legal means."

"When I came to the industry, I thought it was going to be easy and that I would just come and there would be rules and that’s just it. But it wasn’t easy, as it was difficult and roles weren’t coming, nothing was happening and nobody believed in anybody as they didn’t believe in wasting their time on who they are not sure of."

"When I’m off the set I’m still Regina and if being a celebrity has done anything for me, it’s to be a better me."

"I see myself as a better person, as the plan of God for me is a better one. I know where he wants to place me is better."

"Like I don’t get, aren’t we supposed to be the ones with a very tender and compassionate hearts? How come we are stone hearted, why are we doing this for goodness sake ? or how do we even start to explain all this wicked acts by women."

"Acting is make-believe, so you have to be comfortable when you’re doing it and you also have to take into consideration that our society does not really support some things; they may just condemn you for doing some things but that does not mean we would not do it. We only have to be considerate when we’re doing it."

"I was in my 20’s with two kids. I was sitting down there with zero balance. We had spent everything we had trying to save their father’s life. Not even a good cloth on me."

"Yes, if the right man comes along."

"I am a very beautiful lady that is single and searching indicate interest in the comment section."

"Entertainers influence people. Or, why do you think business owners pay entertainers to influence the sale of their products? Let’s not be biased. We have some die-hard fans and they would support whichever politician we are behind."

"If we reject money from these politicians, they will start to see us as serious people. I will start campaigning on my page, imploring people not to sell their votes."

"Wreferred you con drop dead, pictures go con dey fly around."

"If u no dey post my picture now wey I dey alive, wey I dey hustle, wey I dey struggle, wey I dey pray everyday make God bless my work, you dey see me pass you dey show me hate, but I die, you post my picture, I go wake up pursue you. No post my picture. If u dey show me hate now, you no dey help me in any way, you no dey post my work, anything, no post my picture when I die.”"

"“I’m crushing on MC o. correct man. I just like bad bois”"

"When I was suicidal, I was so broke one day. One of my visitors brought this shaving powder and I wanted to put it in water and drink it. I told my mother I was going to kill myself as I was tired and frustrated with everything. Life became tiring for me."

"I am not comfortable with romantic roles. Playing romantic roles has never been my strong suit. It is one of the roles that have never gone down well with me. I just do it because it is my job. I think I am not comfortable with it because I am not a very romantic person. The thought of holding someone that is not mine is weird."

"One of the most awkward movie roles I have had was acting as a mermaid. It was very challenging because I was trying to be something that I didn’t know and something I had never seen. How does a mermaid laugh or express anger?"

"In every aspect of my life, I have never seen anyone as a rival. Instead, I see people as partners."

"I do not see flaunting wealth as competition. I rather see it as motivation."

"One’s attitude is what takes one far."

"I have no single respect for anyone who doesn’t keep their camera and their loudspeakers at home while helping the needy."

"During our time, as a little girl, you were not even allowed to have any ambition. You were to grow up to the age of 17, get married, have children, grow old and died. That was the norm. That was the way it was for female children at that time in the environment I grew up."

"My journey into the movie world can be described as a miracle because the truth is that I stumbled upon acting when I was in search of a job to raise money for my school fees after I gained admission to study Mass Communication at the University of Lagos in 1996."

"I strive towards success and genuine happiness every day of my life and by the grace of God, I have peace of mind."

"I would have elected to be a lawyer if I were not in the movie industry. I have a great repulse to injustice. I hate to see people being cheated or people’s rights being violated"

"Take every opportunity you get; you never know which one will help you accomplish your goal."

"Stop comparing your life to others. There’s no comparison between the SUN and the MOON. They shine when it’s their time."

"I have learnt to be patient. I have learnt to understand that people’s destinies are different. I have also learnt to understand that not everybody will appreciate your style, not everybody will understand where you are coming from. All you need as a person is focus."

"There is this rush in me, it is there, and you can feel it inside you, knowing that somebody is going to make use of it. It comes at the end of the script you write knowing you have been able to come up with something that someone else will make use of what you are doing. Then, knowing that not everybody can do what you are doing."

"Growing up in the slum helps you to find yourself. It’s either you are defined or you are not. Growing up as a child in Ajegunle, it’s either you get lost or it helps you find your way."

"As a child I have always known what I wanted. In my room I had a write-up that when I become eighteen I would rent my own apartment."

"You don’t decide when you find the right person, so wherever you find yourself at whatever point in life, it’s important to be happy at that stage."

"Both writing and acting, I don’t see myself trying to compare them. It is my duty to do my job and it is people’s duty to analyse it. Success is getting to a point where you are comfortable with what you have and you are happy with it and this is exactly how I feel."

"One Nigeria can truly not work, except these excesses can boldly and truly be checked."

"Wealth and assets have no hiding place."

"Stop trying to replace your ex. What’s gone is gone. Trust yourself to make better choices and make corrections from your initial error. If you still haven’t healed, give yourself time to."

"What’s gone is gone, what’s lost is lost. Trust in your destiny, you will find love. and it will find you."

"If we could conquer Ebola, I believe we can conquer this too, we only need to take precaution, At least the only case that has been identified yet as been quarantined. We just hope our government will intensify its efforts in making sure it’s fully eradicated."

"The secret to my beautiful physique is the fact that I eat healthy and I don’t eat junk food. Sometimes, I get advances from some men who are younger than me but I handle them with wisdom. Some of them would say there is no big deal in dating younger men but I don’t believe in dating someone younger than me."

"“To be honest with you, I don’t know when I would be getting married. I’m not desperate about marriage. If not for the pressure that comes from society and expectations from the church; left to me, if it comes, it’s fine and if not, it’s okay. I won’t die. I just want to be happy. I want to have a good relationship with people around me and with God– that’s all that matters.""

"“He will come but if he doesn’t come, life continues. I have seen many people in unhappy marriages who would do anything to leave those troubled unions and I don’t want to find myself in such situation.”"

"I got into Living in Bondage which metaphorsed into what we have today as home-video, I was in the Yoruba movies, the 36mm celluloid."

"....But Peace is a woman who knows her onions. She loves her husband very much but she knows the kind of man he is and tries to tolerate his excesses but the ones she could not stomach, she would refuse vehemently. She knows how to get around things unlike the other wives who bow down before their husband."

"She was chocolate. Not very dark but not fair. My father was fair. My mother had four kids. Two have her complexion. Two are fair like my dad."

"I was like a child who felt this was the way it was being done. But I was wrong. If I knew then what I know now, maybe, I would have been able to forgive and patch it up because then, I believed that if it was not for me, it was not for me."

"When you hear Health Insurance scheme, what comes to your mind is that you are ‘covered’, no matter the nature of your sickness. But it becomes a different ball game when you now realise that you have to pay a certain amount of money, even though they will still tell you it doesn’t cover this or that."

"It’s only a dead meat that doesn’t have admirers. So long as you are in the public eye, men will admire you. You are bound to be admired by the good, the bad and the ugly. It’s for you to say, ‘Thank you! It’s all good! It’s well."

"If a man doesn’t have the fear of God, forget it! Every other thing you are doing is rubbish."

"Well, I would say the beginning of Nollywood industry, which is Living in Bondage. Though it was produced a long time ago, it’s a movie that has stood the test of time."

"Well, there is no comparison in the sense that it was the humble beginning, when everything we do was like, “this is my brother, this is my sister”, but nowadays, it is business as usual. The only thing I would say is in terms of motion pictures, we have really improved but the storyline, no. Only very few people have good content."

"The fact that you are married or not, is not the industry’s problem because as a married woman, you were not blindfolded to do this thing and everything is a choice. Even as a single girl, you can decide not to do it. It’s not a matter of being married or not, it’s a role you are being given to play and you have every right to say, my producer, I don’t want to play this role."

"Well, it’s the normal challenges. Getting there, meeting your peers, and seeing that you are new, some people have gone far ahead of you. Trying to get yourself together, trying to make yourself known, telling them you are capable of being a good actor. There is nothing one does in life that doesn’t come with its own challenge, that’s typically the thing."

"Before ‘skinny girl’, I did Yoruba movies. I have done a lot, I have done Yoruba films, I have won awards in the Yoruba language. As you said, I was brought up in Lagos here and I grew up in Lagos, so I understand the language very well. Like I told you, before ‘Skinny Girl’, I have had awards in Yoruba, I have up to four or five. So it’s not easy."

"After a shoot that fateful day, I went into my room to get water from the fridge, and that was it. I fell and blanked out. When I regained consciousness, I thought it was just a minor thing until I tried to get up and walk. I kept telling myself ‘Ngozi get up and walk’ but I couldn’t."

"The way press people put things can make you, mar you, or even kill you."

"If actresses don’t dress well, people would abuse them that upon all the films they act, they are not rich."

"When something is local, it does not mean that it is dirty."

"I may fall a thousand times I tell you but I will always rise again greater than before.”"

"Time is indomitable, you can’t stop it, reverse it, hold it or pause it…”"

"I wanted to be the kind of woman who would attract a certain kind of man that I could respect. That was my thinking. It had to do with the kind of couple I would be a part of."

"For me it is not an inspiration, it’s a passion. I have been passionate about acting for as long as I could remember. I can’t really recall what made me to go into acting but I knew right from the beginning that it was what I had wanted to do."

"In all professions, you have bad eggs and decent people that one can respect and I can tell you, you will find many of such people in Kannywood. You know me very well, apart from the fact that at times, I can be too emotional in which some preferred to interpret to mean I am arrogant, I mind my business."

"There are no shortcuts to success, I’ve worked really hard to get to where I am today, so I’ll say hard work, determination and persistence are the key, and for me, those are not secrets."

"Stop giving birth to babies you know you can’t afford to take care of. God will hold you accountable for having children without giving them all the necessary guidance and parental care."

"I think people have to kind of hear the fact that I started writing when I was nine years old. I want people to know my story and all the things that I do. I realize that sometimes, it is important to tell your own story, in your own words. So, that you can also have young people realize that you don’t give up. You just have to keep dreaming and realizing those dreams."

"Life has taught me gratitude. A few years ago, I got sick; my skin changed colour. I just woke up and my skin started changing colour and just about finding out what it was, I lost my brother, Michael, who was running the Foundation. He went for something and then, they shot him. So, my perspectives in life changed totally in terms of living our life just as it is and in turn I realized that everyday could be your last. I don’t think anything can change you more than something that is significant. He had just been with me in the hospital. When you go through such experiences like that then live your life for the best; don’t live it for anybody else. Don’t try to prove any point to anybody but just be as good as you can to the next person."

"So, I do a lot of things with my hands; from Aromatherapy to reflexology, massage. I have different escentric things that I do. But I enjoy readings, watching films and listening to a lot of music. So, when I’m writing, I intend to listen to music. When I’m selling my fabrics, I’m having fun as well."

"2013 was a very difficult year for us logistically. But interestingly, it was one of the years that we planned very well;there were a lot of issues, people claimed they were strangled and I begin to wonder how one could come into Nigeria with one way ticket. It’s not possible."

"Piracy will never go away. It is even what made Nollywood films popular."

"I have always had principles even before joining Nollywood. And this is a place I have come to stay and I will be here for a very long time. I don’t think it is necessary for me to mess myself up. Even if I am a wayward person, I don’t think I should do it around Nollywood. As for the younger actresses who are desperate and all that, my advice is that it doesn’t pay; I don’t think having sex-for-role or paying for someone to give you a role is the ultimate way to the top; it doesn’t just make sense."

"Please this is to encourage you, no matter what you are doing, don’t let go of God’s hands, keep striving to be better. Again for the ones that still date married men because of money, please stop because the consequences are generational. Same money you will get if you work hard and be content"

"I wouldn’t say I faced challenges; rather, I climbed stairs. And as it is with the activity of climbing staircases, the muscle is put to work. My God and my talent have been my muscle."

"Some of the most important lessons I have learnt over the years in the course of my career include to be true to myself, live, learn and love."

"One of the qualities that have helped me get to this stage is humility. It pays for one to be humble."

". I believe that one is who one is, regardless of whatever industry one finds oneself in."

"Fame has not robbed me of anything. Rather, it has given me a formidable pedestal to be a role model to a great number of people."

"It pays for one to be humble"

"It was tough especially not knowing many people in an industry that is dominated by the menfolk. I am so passionate about films that my determination helped and a lot of perseverance and learning about how things work here. How I learnt abroad and how it is done here, is very different. So you have to learn, ask questions, and work with other people to gather experience. But when I came to my own productions, I had very high standard for myself even as a producer/ director."

"I like to learn from each project that I do what I can do better. I’ve always pushed myself to the next level. So I naturally expect high standard from everybody; actors, crew and everyone that I work with. I am tired of people telling me this is the way it is done in Nigeria. For me, mediocre is not an excuse. I understand that there are certain limitations we have but for me, with passion, determination and with God on your side, you can achieve anything. I am a testimony to that."

"A lot of people are getting married for the wrong reasons: money, family pressure. A lot of people are trapped in their marriages and they do all kinds of things including adultery. So Flower Girl is about a young girl Kemi, who dreams about getting married to her boyfriend because that is what a lot of the women do. They dream about the wedding and never think about the marriage itself which is a lifelong commitment."

"I’d just want to encourage other young people who want to get into the movie industry that they should not give up hope and that they should continue to be passionate about what they want to do whether it is directing, producing or acting. They could start by reading online about their craft. Buy books and attach themselves to a producer for a while so that they can learn about the business and how things work. I’d just encourage them not to give up because I know how hard it can be because I’ve been there myself."

"You are the best critic of yourself, because you should be able to tell yourself the truth. All I do is to sit back and take a critical look at the role I played in that film probably to ascertain where I need to improve on it."

"I believe in marriage. I was born into a home, I have a father and a mother. But marriage has not come my way, and I don’t think it’s yet a challenge to me. When it comes my way, it comes."

"We are in a world where we must continue to learn everyday."

"But that’s the tide of life for you, it throws you onto a path and if you tread that path, it becomes your path, your chosen profession."

"You are as good as your last job, and when you look at your last job, you would notice some minor flaws here and there, that probably others might not take note of."

"Pls darling, you need to put somethings behind you and take the next step… come back to life as our ever smiling Lola Margaret. NOTE…. those who say bullshit about you got nothing to offer, so keep you head upright and move on honey. And if truly you’re around my shoulders are available okay, I love and miss you my darling friend"

"Family is family, business is business. None should affect the other because you need money from your business to take care of your family. It is always important to workout things to avoid clash of interests."

"You must agree with me that most broken relationships or marriages start from the pages of newspapers. That is why I hardly grant interviews. I am doing this just because of the event we are attending, the personality of the person we are here to honour and the environment we are. I dread the media so much for fear of being misquoted or misinterpreted. More so, I am a very shy and private person"

"You don’t do things because someone else has done it. You don’t work with people’s time, talent or passion. You try to carve a niche for yourself with your own time, talent and passion. Like I said earlier, I am into fashion or African fabrics. I also run a foundation which the Africulture is part of. It is what I love doing. I also cook a lot. If you have an event for instance and you need great delicacies of African touch and class of excellence, I am at your service. I can sing too but not to the point of going into music yet. Not for now at least. I am not thinking along that line"

"Basically, we all have choices to make in life. So, the issue of whether or not to give in to sexual harassment from producers for movie roles is a matter of choice. I was harassed but didn’t give in because I’m not that kind of person. Because if I had given in, I’d have made a big break by now. But it’s not as if I haven’t been getting roles. It’s just that they don’t come as I would want"

"Life is versatile.I don’t intend to focus all my resources on acting alone.I’m also a presenter and a choreographer/dancer. I cook well too."

"Men are everywhere, so it’s not a big deal coping with them. It’s the same when you ask how I cope with my father or brothers. So, I cope well with advances from men."

"It’s not that I don’t wish to be married by now. I’m waiting for the right man. It’s not as if I haven’t dated anyone before, I don’t just want to discuss about my love life. But I believe love is everything. Love is magical to me."

"There is always the issue of people wanting to take advantage of you, calling you up to ask you out, promising to get you a role and all that. For me, I had to tell a lot of people ‘no’ and I got so many disappointments."

"It is a normal thing for men to go after an attractive woman. I haven’t had any abnormal experience with them. They show their admiration of me and I show them mine."

"No amount of money in the world can make me go nude. God, I have my principles and beliefs. I can’t just do that. I don’t think money can buy my nudity."

"Well, I am a traditional person. I believe sex should be reserved for married people but we are all adults, so everybody is entitled to his or her own decision, I am not a judgmental person."

"For me, every time I have to shoot one of those scenes (a sex scene in a movie), everybody is gone on set except the personnel needed to shoot the scene. I go out of my way to make sure that the actors are comfortable to portray what it is to portray and also I ensure that nobody takes advantage of the other because it is difficult for the guy and it’s also difficult for the woman, so it’s my duty to make everywhere comfortable so that they can portray everything they have to portray. As you were asking me how do I do it, I, first of all, empty the place, and only the people that can be there can be there. I know that some crew members can be okay but sometimes, it might make the actors uncomfortable. It’s just another scene in the movie but it’s a serious scene and I make sure my actors are not uncomfortable and I think that is why they are willing to do it for me in my films as well.”"

"A percentage of my profits from my films will be used to build a computer centre in my village. I am even more committed now to ensuring that every young person there receives free basic computer training."

"You know as a business owner I was looking for ways to increase my profit margin and make the process smoother. The only thing I could think of was to access or book the crew, talent, and equipment needed on time. I thought things would be easier for me if there was a database to access these guys in different countries."

"Working in the media industry as a producer for over a decade, I found many limitations when trying to source creatives across the continent. The process is currently expensive, time consuming and extremely inefficient. I have dedicated the last three years of my life creating this innovative tech-enabled solution that will reshape Africa’s workforce. This is my vision for Bookings Africa; an Africa that works."

"I believe Africa is the future, yet, the biggest problem we face is unemployment. Bookings Africa tackles this issue by enabling millions of freelancers gain recognition, monetise their talent and build a sustainable career on their own terms. This means you can create your personal profile, upload your work portfolio, set your own rates, availability and manage your business better with guaranteed payments all at the tap of a button."

"So leaving radio was simply because I have tried to manage my time over the last 5 years but it comes to a time where you are like, you know what, I can’t marry two husbands. I love the both of you but I have to pick one and I think my company fulfills me more."

"It’s a new year and I have been on radio for 5 years and I think it’s time for me to focus more on my company because it has gotten to the stage where I’m leaving my clients on set running to radio and I am not even concentrating on radio because I’m worried about what is going on at Film Factory."

"The whole point of radio was to get to meet a lot of artistes. The reason behind that was because I owned a TV production company called Film Factory because when I moved to Nigeria, I didn’t know any artiste. So working on radio -Saturday and Sunday was a great way for me to meet the artiste so that I could shoot a lot of their videos."

"We have gone from a staff of 3 to 30 in the last 3 years and the impact in terms of all the TV commercial and music videos I have shot. I feel like I’m impacting the African media a lot more which was my ultimate goal."

"I say to people, depending on what you want to do, you actually have to do it first of all. So if you want to be a radio presenter, have you actually recorded yourself to hear what you sound like? Most people who I ask that question reply that they haven’t. If you want to be a TV presenter have you recorded yourself talking about current events? You have to put yourself in that scenario so you can be your own critic. It’s very unrealistic to have no experience whatsoever, and want to be something like this. Also, be realisti. If you have speech impediments like H-Factor, you might not get that job, unless you’re into the comedic, satirical aspect of media. As a whole, practice whatever field you are interested in, pray and network."

"My advice to women looking to start-up is to "Measure twice, cut once". I advise you to know as much as you can about your business so as to put your best forward when you finally get started."

"The world is going digital so basically, we want to get to a stage where whatever you currently do to earn money, should be achievable from anywhere with your phone."

"Being a single lady and a mother are two different things. Now I have a family and children looking up to me. There are certain things I could do when I was younger that I cannot do as a mother. When it comes to my job, when I was single I was always on movie sets but as a mother and a wife, I had to balance it; know when to stay at home with my family and when to be at work."

"I love wearing jeans, I feel so comfortable in it but on occasions when I have to go out, I feel comfortable wearing dresses. I also love native. I feel comfortable in all attire but it is easier to just wear my jeans and move on."

"My selling point is my face. I have a round face with dimples, so I consider my face as my selling point."

"I am not bleaching, I have never bleached. There is a way I maintain my skin by toning it."

"I do not want to be a size 12. I think I will be contented with a size 14. I am no longer a skinny girl although as a youth, I was quite skinny. I feel size 12 will be too small for me. I am currently a size 16 but I will be happy if I can reduce it to a size 14."

"Yes, why not? I can do it in reality even if it is not for a movie role. I can do it just to have a different look."

"It looks good on people and I think it is a way they believe they can beautify their body. As for me, I do not really like it, besides there is a part of the Bible that is against it. It is not that I am holy but I just do not like tattoos."

"Sometimes when I go out and I see my mate, some of them have really become big and they do not care about what they wear but my job entails me to always look good; besides I have people who look up to me. People want to see what I am wearing so that they can copy some of my style. My job has really put me on the right path when it comes to fashion."

"I met him on the Island in Lagos, at Ikoyi to be precise. We dated for three years before we agreed to settle down."

"I take two glasses of water and four spoons of pure honey."

"Nothing is more difficult than saying goodbye to a loved one but in everything, I give thanks to God Almighty."

"I’m growing faster than anyone can imagine. I have passion for acting, and when you have passion for something, you are driven to do the unexpected. I have passed my boundaries as an up and coming actress. This is because I have done things that I thought I wasn’t capable of doing in the industry. At the moment, I have featured in two movies. I still have a lot of scripts lined up for me."

"It has to do with my passion. I have always wanted to be an actress. So, I pushed my family into supporting me. I am a director in my father’s establishment. I have been combining office work with acting. The best thing that can happen to anyone is to be humble. When you are humble, your name will go to places. I’m humble and my humility is paving way for me in the industry."

"I am totally against that kind of mindset. I don’t believe in exchanging sex for a movie role. I believe in my talent and if you want to engage my talent, then you have to come for it. I am a business woman, I don’t mix business with pleasure. I don’t intend to do so. I have a boy friend and I am happy with him."

"I am a strong African woman. I am beautiful, intelligent and I’m a go-getter. I am determined to make the difference"

"Yes, I am. I break men’s heart, but it’s not intentional. It’s either you are lying about something or you are not truthful. Different factors could make me break your heart. And once I‘ve gone, I never returned."

"Only a coward will find me intimidating; if you know your worth and you’re confident of your abilities, I see no reason why a hard-working woman like me should make a man feel inferior. Therefore, a man should find these qualities attractive rather than intimidating. I get a lot of advances from men everywhere I go and I think it is typical of any beautiful woman like me."

"He must fear God because when you get married to a man who fears and loves God, every other thing will fall into place. Everything boils down to God and if he loves God, then he can love me. He must be loving, caring, understanding, and patient and hard-working. I can’t marry an actor and I am currently in a relationship."

"The cinema, Comedy does better because everyone wants to laugh. Everyone is going through struggles. Nobody wants to come to the cinema to watch something that will make them cry."

"But on the other hand, we need to reach out to people to let them understand what human beings are going through"

"Suicide rate is on the increase because people don’t tackle these serious issues. We don’t talk about it well enough. I feel that Nigerians need to be open to new genres of movies well enough. Movies that tackle serious issues that need to be talked about in Nigeria"

"The Fashion Industry creates a fantasy world of what women are supposed to wear, and sadly a lot of women struggle to fit into this. This fantasy world always excludes curvy and plus size women, even though the fashion industry continues to laud itself as democratic in the era of Social media and Gender Equality"

"We have to do better. The global Plus-size Fashion Industry is worth a whopping 20billion dollars, with an annual growth rate of about twice the total clothing market. Do the math!"

"That represents $20billion worth of buying power. Inclusion of all women in the fashion industry is the way forward. Only then can we say Fashion is truly democratic. To all the plus size women, you are beautiful, stylish, fabulous and worthy of every Best Dressed List."

"Feminism is about equality of genders, advocating for equal social, economic, political, and cultural rights and opportunities for both sexes. It is not about women bashing men or vice versa. It is about creating a world where women and men can equally live and thrive and be the best. Yes, I am a feminist and I want that noted."

"It’s a free world and people are allowed to make their choices. I do not feel pressured to undergo any surgery because of my size. I love being a voluptuous plus size woman. Being plus size is not shameful. I embrace my curves and stay healthy."

"Nollywood is improving and evolving. The story lines and technical quality are getting better daily with more attention to details and strategic collaborations. There’s a bit more funding now. It’s definitely looking better as a business. However, there are many challenges in Nollywood, and a peculiar one is distribution. It’s a Herculean task to distribute movies the way it should be done and we need to create more structure and channels of distribution so as to maximise profit and create more visibility for our stories and experiences"

"Life has taught me that people have their own agenda for being your friend or business partner. I tend to question people’s intention towards me and do not trust easily. You have to earn my trust and loyalty"

"Acting is not paying my bills yet, but as a resilient young lady, I run other business that augments my income. I currently own a boutique called, Hubs Couture in Lagos."

"I have been passionate about being an actress all my life. So, when the opportunity presented itself, I ran with it immediately. Great actors and actresses such as Nkem Owoh, Ngozi Ezeonu, Angelina Jolie to mention but a few, inspire me a lot."

"Winning Miss Galaxy changed my perspective about life. It helped me to be more coordinated, got a wider view about life. It has impacted on my life positively, I leveraged on the crown to achieve greater heights, which includes being the face of top Nigerian and International brands such as Bacchus Tonic Wine, featuring in Nollywood movies, and running my boutique (Hugs Couture) amongst others"

"Basically, I just hope that the Nigerian movie industry gets bigger and better, because we are still growing. I’ve heard a lot about sexual harassment in Nollywood, though I haven’t witnessed it. In Nollywood, I look up to Rita Dominic, I want to be like her. I also like Uche Jombo."

"Personally, I feel fashion is how you feel and how you want to be addressed. I love fashion and people know that they can’t catch me not getting it right. Fashion is not a display of wealth, it’s just another way to express how you feel and how you want people to see you. One fashion accessory I love so much is shoes."

"When I want to relax, I travel. I love to travel to see the world as much as I can. I love to watch movies too, so I go to see movies at cinemas and most times at home. Though I don’t drink alcohol, I go out with my friends and we just gist"

"Nigerians should be patient. We would get there. Most of the movies out there are shot with personal funds. We can only do so much with such limited resources. However, if you compare the quality of movies now with those of some years ago, you would see that there is a big difference in terms of picture quality and other areas."

"For me, I am already getting used to the process. However, no two sets are the same and there are always peculiar challenges. It’s quite a task because you have to take care of the cast and crew of the movie and make sure everything on set is okay. If anybody tells you that making a movie is easy, the person is a big liar. As a matter of fact, I always fall ill whenever I finish shooting a movie."

"Acting was actually my first love, but for some reason, that part of my life never really took off; so, I went back to film school, London film academy, studied film production/screenwriting and my whole film making career kicked off. What spurred me? I had always wanted to tell and share my story with the world."

"It’s both. I think one of my biggest fears is accepting money to shoot a movie though I do get several offers. In as much as content is king, the demand for it is getting higher but the remuneration is getting lower. Producers, who have made huge box office returns, check out what they have put in and their returns. If you say you make N100 million in cinemas, split that in three ways first before you start considering returns on investment from the one-third that comes to you."

"“I’m a writer, producer, director and sometimes I want to be an actor because my original dream since I was a teenager was to act but life directions didn’t really take that course. I studied Philosophy in OAU and when I graduated I went into radio. I was on Star FM for a while as a newscaster. I then moved to MITV to be a TV presenter and then I went on to Insight Communication Agency to be a copy writer and afterwards went back to radio, Rainbow FM for about 4-years."

"My husband is a young man and very conservative and he had one worry which is quite valid. The trend of people getting married and breaking up was his worry. And also the African perspective to how people will be ‘touching his wife’ and all that but by the time we crossed that bridge, there were lots of rules like ‘ don’t let them hug you’ and the likes. He’s comfortable now that I am the producer and so I’ll know how to write it to soothe our conditions; and by the time he even agreed the flair was gone. So it was more of me just wanting to be a film maker and I found peace."

"You can count on two hands the films I’ve made. That is to tell you that it is not as lucrative as it seems. What makes it lucrative is also spending a lot of money on making the film, promoting the film and making sure everyone hears about it. So, small screen film makers like me (because there are some filmmakers that only come out to make films for cinema) bank on the numbers. As long as you keep working, you’ll be able to balance out. But if you’ll be going to the cinemas, you’ll need money to go in the first place and you’ll also need to wait a long time to be paid and to be licensed. It’s not a return that comes at once, it spreads over time"

"There is nothing wrong with dating a fan. Are they not human beings? In as much as the person is caring and loves my job, I can definitely date or marry a fan. However, I won’t go for someone that doesn’t love my job."

"I cannot marry a man who would restrict my success. He knew I was an actress before approaching me, so why would he restrict my success? That means such a person is selfish and doesn’t appreciate what I am doing. Why would I settle down with a man that will restrict my success"

"Some people are frustrated on social media. If they don’t say negative things about you, they won’t get well. I just block such people; I don’t have time to entertain them."

"No matter how long the road, it will lead to your destination"

"For now I am not facing any challenges because I have overcame my problem and fear back then. Today, I am grateful to Almighty God because He is the foundation of everything and He has been faithful to me."

"In five years, I would be everywhere and would be a role model to the world because by then I believe I will be an international icon in the movie industry. And by then, I will also be a wonderful mother."

"I know I will make a good wife. I cook well; I am not the outgoing type. If I am not working, I am at home. It is sad that when people see me outside, they have a different impression about me."

"Some people that do not have all these things are worse. I do not sleep around; they have a very bad impression about me. When I am dating a person, I make it known. I do not have to hide it that I am dating somebody. If I am dating a person and the person trusts me, my family knows about the person and knows what I can do. I don’t care about what anybody says."

"I acted as a bodyguard to Segun Arinze’s character in the movie. While on that set, Segun Arinze directed me to a woman who was about shooting a Yoruba movie and that was how I really got into the movie industry."

"At first, I didn’t know I had malaria, I had typhoid, I did various tests, I was taken to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). At LUTH, I did various tests and x-ray and at the end of the day, they discovered it was a liver problem."

"I just wanted to be fine. I wanted to leave the hospital. I wanted to get back to work. I wanted to be around everybody."

"The movie that led to my breakthrough is Sikiratu Sindodo. It has stuck with me ever since and it is always in the news for the bad reasons."

"As a child my dad wanted me to become a newsreader while my mother wanted me to become a Lawyer.They have always known that I have passion for acting but my dad didn’t like it. However, when I eventually became famous, he became proud of me."

"Nowadays, the internet has taken over completely, compared to when I got into the industry. These days, people only watch cable TV, Youtube and other platforms. The number of people who watch terrestial TV has greatly reduced. In a way, it has also killed the industry because people no longer buy DVDs and the marketers are complaining bitterly. We need government to support us so that we can do cinema movies."

"I am somehow in a relationship right now. My man must be ready made. I also like my man to be very prayerful, loving and caring. I am a very jealous person: I like my man to myself.. I don’t like sharing. I can marry an entertainer because we are in the same industry."

"My dad wasn’t in support of me acting because he wanted me to become a lawyer but he didn’t know that my UTME score wasn’t high enough to qualify for law. I told my mum about my interest in creative acts and acting. So, she spoke to Abbey Lanre and that was how I met other big names in the industry. I was also trained even as an undergraduate."

"I was brought to the limelight by the movie, Omo Ghetto, and it was also my most challenging role. I was able to play that character well because of my childhood days on the Island. I have been friends with Funke Akindele for a long time; so, when she came up with the idea for the movie, we were able to execute it. We didn’t expect the kind of acceptance that the movie got and we are so grateful to God."

"The challenges are so much. I remember my early days as a beginner; I was restricted from working for just anybody even when I had friends who were producers. However, I thank God for granting me favours with my bosses but sometimes, I got punished when they saw me on screen with other people. However, the training helped me to become better and disciplined as an actor, unlike when you are a freelancer."

"Going nude is not an option for me. I can never go nude."

"Well, as a producer you always have to try and balance the creative with your finances and so it’s always a constant battle trying to give as much as you can without breaking the bank. You deal with a lot of personalities and creative ideas. But you realize it’s a collaborative process and you have to bring everyone along."

"It’s easier to just show people who you are. Actions speak so much louder."

"Filmmakers in Nollywood are really tenacious. No matter the obstacle we seem to overcome. If you put a Hollywood filmmaker in Nigeria I don’t think they’d ever survive. So I just wish we had the proper support to help us make magic."

"Inception, Crazy Rich Asians, the complexity of Inception is insane, delivering a story like that takes some crazy imagination. Crazy Rich Asians for its vibrancy and the way culture exudes through every scene. It’s a beautiful film."

"I can’t bring myself to look down when I’m up somewhere that’s too high."

"Running a business in Nigeria is difficult but I decided to focus and do that full-time."

"I just want to keep going, conquering one thing after another until I take over the worlddddd!"

"Africa to the world is how I see it. The World isn’t so big anymore."

"Women. If we come together, respect each other, educate, enlighten, pray, we can do anything."

"The significance of celebrating my birthday is just to thank God that I added another year. I am alive, hale and hearty. Also, to thank Him for rewarding my career bountifully. I celebrate my birthday every year."

"I will live my dream. I enjoy what I am doing right now. I said I will live my dream in the sense that when I get to that end, I would have put in all I wanted to invest in my career. It’s then, I would say I will be living my dream but I am still working, working very hard to realize that dream. I can’t say I have landed yet."

"I don’t think I have any bad habit but nobody is perfect. I only pray that God makes me a better person in my imperfect ways. I am a human being and human beings are not perfect. It is only God that’s perfect."

"I am just a beginner. I am still growing and learning but very focused. I am just a girl, I am yet to be fulfilled. I am yet to achieve one per cent of what I intend achieving. But by God’s grace, I will get there."

"It was amazing. Growing up is one of the best memories ever. I’m so used to the hustle and bustle of Lagos that it is almost natural. I am a one hundred percent Lagos Girl, especially considering the fact that I grew up in Surulere"

"Stay true to yourself, work hard and do not do anything you will regret. Don’t sell your soul for fame; it’s not worth it."

"I don’t know. I just try to be myself, and try to be healthy. I think that’s the most important thing. Usually, I’m not a foodie, but I am glad my house help ran away two weeks ago. He actually stole my money, and ran away, so now I am used to doing stuff by myself."

"I believe in expressing myself; always stating my point, and sticking to what I believe in. People may read different meanings to it, but at the end of the day, I can only be myself; I can’t try to be someone else, or back-up what I don’t believe in. I wasn’t brought up like that. It has brought me here so far, and I love me."

"I don’t get into trouble. If I say anything anywhere, I will stand by it. I’m not the kind of girl who believes in gossip, or idle chatter. If I have anything to say, I say it and move on. If you have any problem with it, come and tell me."

"Some people are boring and have a myopic attitude but I don’t worry myself about them"

"Playing with a python or lion is not a big deal. I have always loved animals and I like having them around me. I don’t see anything unusual about that."

"It’s passion for me. But sometimes, your passion might not give you money."

"I mean if they don’t talk about it, then you are not doing anything."

"A confident man will never be intimidated by the accomplishments of his woman. Instead, he will try to make you better. A confident man will push you to actualise your dreams."

"Winning the AMVCA made me realise that you don’t need to give up."

"I Support other people’s business. I learnt a lot. And think that is how works."

"Depression is real and we need to tackle it so that we can stop losing people."

""Enjoy the process, very soon you will get everything you want. It just takes time"."

"Gospel music is not enjoying much hype as most Nigerians prefer to listen to secular music. This could be really painful for selected singers who chose this niche but I am always motivated to change the phase of every situation I find myself and I will be doing everything possible by the grace of God to elevate the gospel music niche in Nigeria"

"I am aiming for the sky, the best"

"I was not born with a silver spoon. Growing up for me was really tough. There were a lot I needed that I couldn’t get, even with having my both parent though they tried at least to put a meal on the table"

"Many a time, I try to put myself in the shoes of others living around us who can’t have one square meal a day and I will always end up in tears of not being able to do something to help their situation."

"URHUESE ” is a song of thanksgiving to God for His Goodness, Blessings and faithfulness."

"Urhuese is a word in Edo language that means ‘thank you’ and ‘it’s an album of gratitude to God for his blessings, goodness and faithfulness"

"Urhuese is a song of thanksgiving to God Almighty for His love and kindness towards mankind and one of the purposes of this song is to stimulate the heart of gratitude in individuals across the Globe. My expectation is that everyone that comes in contact with Urhuese will cultivate a heart of gratitude because being thankful is not a gift but an attitude that can be cultivated."

"2020 is going to be massive by the grace of God. I am working on something big already and I just can’t wait to let it out for the world to see."

"Being a mother is not an easy job. So those who combine both roles deserve a special medal."

"I wrote this song to celebrate mothers all over the globe who pray tirelessly for the growth and success of their children."

"Brands need to start looking at gospel artists to represent and promote their brand. Seriously, you have a full page when it comes to gospel singers."

"Motherhood is beautiful and it is actually a two-way thing. It is fulfilling because of the blessings that one has with one’s kids. When one wakes up every day and sees one’s kids around one, it is a beautiful experience. But, its challenging side is the stress, especially if one is a career mum. It is fun but stressful."

"What I have learnt about being a celebrity is that you can never satisfy everyone."

"Take a walk; leave that environment first before taking any decision. Talk to God. talk to the Holy Spirit. You will get some sort of direction. You can’t stay in a hostile environment and excel."

"It is you first before anybody else. When you die, you won’t know what would happen to the family you left behind."

"Don’t stew in your juice if you have made a mistake in life move on, don’t try to carry out revenge or get angry over what you couldn’t control. My advice is let your hurt go so you can be a better person. Let love lead and find you."

"Marriage is a choice, it is not a requirement to fulfill your purpose. Your purpose is not in marriage, it is in you."

"It really doesn’t make any difference to me really except he has a white skin and I have a dark skin. It would have been same if I married anyone outside my tribe in Nigeria as we all have different cultures. Adaptation happens naturally"

"I’ve never been afraid of a challenge"

"I believe that as humans, we should never cease to make an impact in the lives of others wherever we find ourselves or whatever we are doing. This appointment restates the fact that there is still a lot of ground to be covered,”"

"I have a father who is very liberal. I had an upbringing of becoming an independent person who makes decisions on his or her own, knowing full well everything that one does has consequences One should be responsible enough to stand by it."

"I sincerely don’t think there is any industry in the world where sex for a job doesn’t come up. So, Nollywood isn’t an exception"

"I guess sometimes when you have this burning desire that makes you lack concentration in every other thing and guarantees you fulfilment and happiness, you get to take it and not look back, that is what acting is for me."

"I never really wanted to be a celebrity. I am here because this is where my heart is. So, when it got really bad, I was like maybe I should just go and do something else, maybe I should just quit. But then, my husband always encouraged me and I picked the pieces together again and continued."

"“Be very patient and consistent. Be hard working, humble and never for any reason stop believing in yourself."

"I don’t understand why we have to get to the point of violence of any kind, be it battering, emotional, financial, psychological, before making a move. I have never understood why loved ones get to that point and why the parties involved remain in abusive relationship when it is obvious it can have a fatal end, even if it doesn’t lead to death, depression and isolation, it leads to mental breakdown. I strongly believe any form of domestic violence against both women and men is unacceptable, should be frowned at and the signs should be addressed on time. Victims should understand their priority is their happiness and safety and they owe it to themselves to walk out alive while they still have their heads on their shoulders instead of bothering themselves on what the society will say; walk out and quit when you still can. The good thing is that these days, even the society frowns at it and the law now has agencies to handle cases so they should reach out on time and save themselves from a fatal end."

"My advice for them is always to be sure what they want and then go for it. They should realise they can be anything they want and have no limitations, except that which they create themselves. Life isn’t as easy as a lot of people make it look like. It takes a lot of hard work, sleepless nights, dedication, determination, discipline, consistency, persistency, and focus to get there, so they should be ready to work extremely hard and know that it will never come easy. But the trick is to never give up, to trust the process, believe in themselves and their dreams, no matter how impossible it looks, keep pushing and to not put their trust in people and putting all their hopes in believing someone will help them fasttrack their dreams. No one owes you anything, so don’t hand your life to anyone. Take control, trust and believe in yourself, thank God for the internet and even if you don’t have money to go train yourself, you can read and watch videos on line. read, read and never stop reading and remain focused."

"What are my dreams? To find fulfilment in all I do and be extremely happy in life."

"I want to be a force to reckon with not just as an actor but also as a producer. I want to do quality stuff and be an employer of labour so that I can change perceptions people have about the industry."

"A person focused on achieving his/her goals will find life more fulfilling. Keep glowing."

"The only one standing in your way is you. Go for what you want at full speed, no hesitation, no questions."

"You don't have to leave before you are forgotten."

"Life is perspective, 2 pieces."

"Children are not asked to be born so when you have them, you must take care of them."

"I believe that this (acting) is what God ordained me to do and that is why I am still relevant. I am very sure that if I had towed a different career path I would have been forgotten by now"

"However, never say never because ultimately my destiny might not be in marriage NOW, but maybe when I’m 75yrs old. You never can tell"

"But we don’t wake up in the morning and see a bag of money waiting for us outside. I have been working since I was 17."

"I am not worried any longer as long as I know what I am capable of doing."

"But people who don’t do much will say they are busy. I wonder what they do."

"My mother died when I was yet to start life. Mothers are the only persons who fight for their children."

"Why not? Do you jump into bed with just anybody. I am not saying I am celibate for religious reasons. You don’t just jump into bed with just anybody but if I meet a nice person, why not?"

"As far as character is concerned, honesty is important no matter how much you have, if you made your money dis-honestly I no fit follow you. For instance, if you are doing 419, it won’t happen. Honesty in your relationship is important. I always tell guys, maybe they think I am joking. Try and be open. If you have been messing around as a guy, tell me. If for instance you play away match and carry something, tell me; don’t hide it and don’t deprive me of sex because you know you have something because I will begin to worry you about myself. ‘Is it that this guy does not love me anymore?’ Just tell me ‘babe, I mess up-o, see wetin happen.’ I would say ‘oya come, make we go see doctor first, let us go and look at the case’ and after that we can talk about it because what I need from a man is a best friend. You have to be my best friend and in order for that to happen you have to be open and honest with me so we understand each other. So if for instance I am dating you now and someone sees you with a girl and then she comes to me and says ‘I saw Tony the other day with a chick, I would say ‘yes, she was wearing a short red mini skirt, high heels, her hair was dread locked, any problem?’ I don’t like people being involved in my relationship but please, don’t make me look stupid so tell me first so I go know how to arrange myself when those wicked people that want to spoil the matter come around. Generosity is very important."

"There is no easy way to losing weight. Do things the right way. Eat less and exercise more and discipline yourself. Of course, I had sugar cravings even up till now and that is the problem with weight loss. It is not losing the weight that is the challenge, but keeping it at bay. Exercise is a big part of it, because even if you eat a normal portion of food and you are not doing your exercise, you might just remain there."

"Start with your mind. Your mind has to be in the right place. Like I said, there is no easy way to losing weight. Even if you decide that you want to go for surgery, it is not easy. So your mind has to be made up. Then your lifestyle is very important because some people spend all day sitting at a desk. Those that sit at the desk are not using up energy at all, so your lifestyle is important. And the time you eat at night is also important. You don’t have to eat late. You must eat your last meal around 7pm. I think you shouldn’t deprive yourself of anything"

"As soon as the abuse starts. When a man gives you a heavy slap and he says I am sorry, and then the next week he repeats it and says he is sorry , it is time to flee. If my man slaps me once I will take it as ‘okay, it could be his five minutes of madness’. Everybody is allowed that. But if it happens again, then it is probably in his DNA and it is all over. We all have our different situations and that is why I say to girls, use your brains and not your breasts. Go to school, be independent. Whether you are married or not, have your own thing going because a lot of women stay in abusive relationships because they have nowhere else to go. If they leave their husbands, children’s school fees will not be paid and there will be no food in the house and they can’t fend for themselves. So when you have 23-inch waist and 46 inch ‘yansh’ and there is one guy toasting you and he has all the money in the world, beware! That is not what it is all about. Because for every 23 inch waist, there is a 24 and when that man gets bored and if he is abusive, you are in big trouble. So go to school, be independent, your own woman. If you meet a good man, thank God, but if perchance you meet a monster, move on before you are killed."

"You mustn’t be scared of what people are going to say because it is not your fault. I got a lot of snide remarks when I revealed my experience; some people said I was looking for attention. Meanwhile, it is because of talks like that, that many victims don’t report rape incidents. I wish everybody has a strong family like mine because I had people I could lean on. Unfortunately, not everybody has that kind of support system. Nevertheless, they need to find strength within themselves; otherwise, rapists would keep getting away with the dastardly act without any repercussion"

"Broadcasting has given me confidence. It helped me with my theatre and acting. This is because when you are in broadcasting, you have to be very expressive with just your voice; nobody can see your face. So, it actually helped me with my voice patterns"

"There are times that we need to up our games as actors, producers and other professions in the film making industry; we need to be professional and do things right. The fault in our movies did not just happen because we lack money, they also come with the way we handle things as professionals, though, money is also a big factor.There are other things that are attached to film making which we need to look at to move the industry forward"

"The important message is that people should not think that having a wealthy father makes one’s career easy. It is not easy for anybody. One has to be talented and hard-working. I know that one day people would start seeing that this is what I’m good at"

"Once a magazine cover says ‘yellow’ girls are fine or curvy girls are sexy, that becomes the trend and everybody starts tilting in that direction. That’s where body-shaming starts from. But the truth is that God made every individual differently and there is beauty in everybody."

"I had always wanted to be an ambassador and a pilot. When I finally started flying, I didn’t want to be anything close to being a pilot."

"Acting puts you in the limelight and as such there will be a lot of distractions. One thing I have always said to myself is that I came into this industry for a reason and I have a target. I am a focused young lady. I am goal getter. I don’t listen to people who don’t understand what I am doing or where I am coming from. I have learnt to be myself, to be focused and not to listen to negative and unnecessary criticisms."

"I love a man who is God-fearing irrespective of what he does. I love a man who is honest and someone who looks good and smells nice. Most importantly, I love a man who loves his woman genuinely and supports her career. It is very sweet when you have someone who loves you and supports what you do, a man who comes all out for you and makes you feel like the only girl in the world."

"One thing people don’t know about me is that I am an extremely reserved person. I am a very shy and reserved person. I don’t get comfortable around people easily. I am a very shy person."

"When it comes to dressing, I wear things I am very comfortable in. For me it has to do with being comfortable. It doesn’t have to be necessarily trendy. Most times I wear what I am comfortable in, not necessarily about the trend. That’s my style and that is how I love to dress."

"Growing up was a blissful because I had almost all that I wanted as a child. I wasn’t born with a ‘golden spoon’ but in an above average family. I have always been my mums little doll, having lost my dad at an early age. My mum did double of what both parents could do to raise a “Golden Child”. I was taught that nothing is impossible to achieve in life if I believe in myself, but trust in God, have passion for what I do and not to give up"

"Life has taught me that success is no accident, its hard work, perseverance, sacrifice and most of all, love for what you do or learning to do. Secondly, life has taught me to love myself and appreciate me for who I am. I have also learnt to stay away from negative/toxic people. Life has taught me to accept change and be thankful for everything that happens and to always trust in God’s word. Trusting God doesn’t mean he will do all you wants but rather believing he will do everything he knows is good."

"Because you could still be a virgin and the end of the day still be a bad person. Being a virgin doesn’t make you better than the next person. That’s basically what I have to say because every person has different perspectives to life; different challenges to life. It all depends on where you’re coming from."

"I believe they chose me for my position believing I can deliver. I have always been the people’s woman. I care for the poor and the needy as they need a voice."

"I joined the African Democratic Congress because of their ideology at a time when everything in me resisted politics. I couldn’t help but notice the political instability that was going on in Nigeria and in Edo State, hence my decision to join the ADC. For me, it was the only credible alternative."

"I have no godfather; I do not believe in ‘godfatherism’. It must be said that ‘godfatherism’ is like ‘cultism’ and self enslavement for life. I will not wish that on my worst enemy."

"I am someone that long for happiness. Happiness means a lot to me and I am not interested in financial gains. It means absolutely nothing to me. We must work hard to survive and that is what we must do. One cannot buy happiness and I am grateful that I have that happiness today."

"I have always been passionate about the needy. If we all could reach out to the needy by contributing our own quota, then our country will be a better place."

"I am not a feminist. I believe that God created men and women to complement each other. Women need to be motivated. And that support is prime on my agenda. Women are the ones that give birth to the men in the first place so if we think that they are not giving us equal opportunities then, let us change the way we nurture them. In other words, it is time to work together as women. Hard work is what has gotten me to this stage in my life and women should emulate that."

"Let me get something clear, helping people is not all about handing out alms to them but also creating opportunities for them to feed themselves and others while creating an environment where they could unlock their innate gifts and potentials and that is why I shall remain committed to the poor masses no matter what happens."

"I believe that if you want to succeed in anything that you do, it does not come easy. I embrace challenges very well and my mindset is that I do not want anything to stop me."

"In carrying out duties, gender should not play a role and I do say that to women as a form of encouragement because sometimes you find that women could be self-defeatist."

"I think a lot of women feel that they cannot do it because it is a male-dominated space, but I think that you will need to go and prove yourself. I have that attitude right from time and anywhere I go, I stand out. I say to women, when you are getting it tough, please do not use your gender because from my experience, men do appreciate women that strive in their walks of life."

"My interest will involve encouraging Nigerian and foreign charity organisations to help raise funds for the needy, most especially, Nigerian showbiz stars who are dying of curable and manageable ailments due to lack of funds"

"The health insurance scheme has done perfectly well in the past six months. I am so proud to say that it’s working. The insurance scheme was designed to stop our entertainers from going cap in hand to beg for financial assistance whenever they are down with one ailment or the other, and in case of emergence, they can be treated in other words to stop all the sudden deaths in the entertainment industry."

"There is poverty in the entertainment industry and it’s time to say, ‘talent is not enough.’ We need to acquire skills to complement with whatever talent we have."

"Men will always want to approach you because they see your face on TV. So, because you see my face regularly on TV, you want to approach me? That aspect I didn’t like"

"There is a lot of stress in entertainment and that stress pushes people to alcoholism and drug abuse. It’s a lifestyle that is rampart not only in Nigeria but also around the world. Because they don’t really recognise that showbiz is showbiz, they get carried away with the glamour of it. And before you know it, you get older and they push you aside and forget about you."

"My ideal man will be a humanitarian. I am not really into if somebody is rich or poor. But he has to be kind hearted. The way he treats other people matters, it’s not whether he is handsome or not. What trips me in men is the heart. He must be a kind and generous man – not necessarily kind and generous to me, because that may be pretentious. I will watch the way he treats other people. If you are nice to other people, I know you have a good heart, and then I can get attracted to you."

"Life is full of challenges and I encountered so many obstacles when I started acting"

"I am not only an actress, I am also a producer. I have produced several movies in the past and I just finished work on two movies. I like to make good films and that is why I don’t come out with movies every now and then. I am a professional and I know what a good movie should look like. I have set a standard for myself and I don’t want to disappoint my fans."

"I do not care about fame. It has not changed who I am and it has not altered the way I relate with people be it my family, friends or fans. I am a very simple person and generally down-to-earth and forthright. To a large extent, I am an introvert and I like to spend a lot of time indoors. I rarely go out except it is very necessary."

"You can’t tell if that man or woman loves you for who you are or because you are a celebrity. I will get married when God says it is my time. My time has yet to come and that is why I am still single. Anyone who rushes into marriage will definitely rush out, so I am taking my time."

"Never act on impulse, plan, first think it through, then act with a determination, not to be turned aside by thoughts of the past and fears of the future."

"The increasing self-esteem and self-love also makes you feel more deserving of good things in life and so you will self-sabotage less and go after what you deep down want with more motivation and focus than ever before."

"As I grow older, the need to train people increases people whom I can one day pass the baton. Let’s do this."

"I am interested in raising new talents and crew. Several of my movies star new actors in lead or supporting roles, and many of them have gone on to do very well in the industry. I believe in continuity, as such it’s important to me that I invest in people whom I can one day pass the baton."

"My problem is when I watch a Nigerian film trying to be like an American film and failing woefully at that."

"It’s not all about just getting married. To me marriage is worthless."

"It’s kind of makes it like someone is trying to choke me. I need my space, I don’t want nobody choking my life."

"I know people like to see glamour; they like to see glare and all of that, but it is really important that we talk about some of the things that are accepted as a people, and that is really what I am going to do. We do not talk about it enough. It is going to serve as a platform to expose some of the things that some people are going through and probably maybe help them seek the help from organisations and location centers around the country that are aided in assisting in such situations that not many of the victims are aware of. For instance, like the subject of rape, when somebody is raped; where do they go to, who do they talk to? And you know rape is a very sensitive subject? Sometimes it is peculiar to the case because some people could argue that she brought it upon herself, but nobody ever wants to go out there and be raped. So I want to tell a story about that, and how the victims, despite the circumstances in which they became victims, how they can get help and move on. Some people who went through this ordeal have not fully recovered from what they went through; it is just maybe a guide. I don’t have all the answers, but I would like to say maybe this is one of them."

"I am probably one of the simplest people you would ever come across. I am not the most glamorous. I am not flashy, no craziness, and I am not controversial; there is no scandal or anything. I try and keep it simple, as simple as possible. I take the day as it comes. I try not to get upset about anything anymore."

"I think what will draw people to you is your personality. It doesn’t matter if you speak like Obama or the Queen, if you are horrible, you are horrible, and if you are a nice person, you are a nice person. I don’t think how you talk makes a difference. It is only in Nigeria here that people have an issue with accents. They need to be a bit more open to people because we have a lot of foreigners here, so you need to be open to however people speak. I know that some Nigerians have an issue with people who have accents."

"Acting is something that I’ve always wanted to do. I watched the likes of Julia Roberts and Bimbo Akintola over the years and I wanted to be just like them"

"Stay dedicated and resilient. It may not come when you expect but hard work and doggedness never goes unnoticed"

"It’s just the kind of person I am, that’s how I was raised. I am not controversial at all. I’m not dramatic and I’m not an attention seeker. You will not catch me in situations of strife. I’m human, and there are times when people get on my nerves, but I hardly ever blow things out of proportion. I’m not going to let the way people behave change me."

"In real life, that’s what I would do, I would expose deception. I’m not the kind of person that would stand by and let somebody get taken advantage."

"I can’t fight over a man. If I’m in a relationship, and the guy wants to quit, he can. If there’s a fight, then it should be between me and him, and not myself and the other chick."

"When I love someone, I am very sincere. I love with all my heart, so that endears the other person to me; so most of my relationships have ended because we both grew tired of each other, or there was an issue with distance and not because there was a third party."

"I’m a day dreamer. The kind of guy I would never get tired of is someone who is very romantic. Not excessively so, but someone who really cares, someone who is goofy like me, because I’m a kid at heart, I’m overly goofy. Sometimes, I’m way too playful for my own good. So I’d like someone who has a playful personality. My dream guy is also someone who is faithful, who sees only me in the room, no matter how many other beautiful ladies are around. I think that’s every girl’s dream."

"I’m sure I’ll meet someone who understands, whether the devil likes it or not. Anyone who really claims to love me should understand."

"Nigeria is a tough country, but by the grace of God we survive here. It is not for the faint hearted, you really have to be dogged in Nigeria."

"I’m driven by my goals, and I am very passionate. I don’t see any reason why I should be mediocre or ordinary when I can excel. I am the kind of person who wants something and goes all the way to get it. I always get what I want. I believe that you should live life to the fullest, and take every opportunity that life presents you with."

"healthy rivalry is good in sports, entertainment, business, and every other thing we do because it could be a great motivational tool towards being better. However, once it goes negative, that is bad."

"Most attitudes in adults are spillovers from home training, and you may not be able to change that easily. However, a good structure in the industry will curb a lot of misdemeanours"

"I’m an advocate of don’t let what you see on social media influence your life. You cannot tell what goes on in the lives of people so don’t set a standard for yourself based on what you see"

"If I have being able to influence people positively, that makes me feel good but I do not live my life because I want people to feel attracted to the kind of life that I live. I’m just being myself, I’m not pushed to do things because I want people to see me as a role model."

"Contrary to some people’s beliefs, it is a wrong notion to believe a drug addict has to look like a hardened criminal."

"To every problem, there is a solution. So, any time challenges arise, I just say to myself, there is a solution, find it!"

"We were raised with self-confidence and self-worth in my home. It will take someone with inferiority complex to feel threatened by what anyone around them do. I have a clear-cut mission and vision statement, so, I only feel challenged when I feel I’m lagging in my progressive movement towards achieving my goals."

"Being me! Being real! I am confident and on top of my game. The grace of God is also paramount and I thank God for how far He has brought me in the industry."

"I want to seize this medium to express my profound gratitude for their love and support. I want them to continue to love the Jumoke Odetola brand; stay true to themselves and never doubt their self-worth. You can do it! Just get good mentorship on whatever you choose to do! Bless you all."

"For me, professionalism is the most important factor I consider before taking any role. I have to be sure that the people I would be acting with her professionals. That way, I would feel safe and can take any role with them, even romantic roles."

"think I am a fashionable person. I believe that your style is your image and image is everything. The only thing I cannot leave home without is my phone. I can never be caught wearing the fabric called akpoche."

"The path to true happiness is following one’s dreams and living out your “Ikigai”. Ikigai is a Japanese term that advocates doing something you love, that has an impact on the world and also serves a bigger purpose."

"Knowledge is power, as is experience."

"I strongly believe that unity is the way forward and is required for the world to be a better place."

"What I have learned from this is addressing problems and challenges with your innate nature and authenticity is in fact as effective if not more."

"A smile, a gentle demeanour and a kind word coupled with confidence, and persistence can take you as far as you need to go. A leader can take many forms, aggression is not always the answer."

"Work hard, stay positive, do some good, walk your own path and keep persisting. You will definitely see the fruits of your labour."

"Give Gratitude. Start a gratitude journal. Write ten things you are grateful for everyday. Don’t stop. Even when things get better, which they most certainly will, keep the gratitude going. What you appreciate appreciates."

"What is important in a relationship is love and understanding. Are you guys good with each other? Do you bring yourself peace? If all these are positive, then age is just a number."

"Whether there is love in Nollywood or not is a function of the experiences one has had."

"Money is not everything but being comfortable makes a relationship richer and enjoyable."

"You may be religious yet very carnal….but once you are spiritual, you see things from divine point of view."

"I have tried as much as possible to maintain a standard professionally. I don’t go below that standard, instead, I go higher. So with such mindset on your job, everything comes out with a different higher or better result. So it is difficult to pick."

"The hallmark of a good leader is to groom other leaders."

"Apart from having great achievement in the circular world, you still need to know why God has created you and the best way to do that is to go to God"

"Most of the problem we have is that we allow who we are to take over our senses and behaviour at times"

"Nothing stops you from getting to any level"

"If someone speaks against your vision , against what you believe in, RUN FROM THAT FRIEND, if not you will not go far"

"Looking down on yourself, having low self-esteem will reduce what God wants to do through you"

"Don’t Ever Look Down On Anyone"

"Well, all of us have enemies but I always make sure I pray hard and leave everything in the hands of God. You know even if you have nothing in life, you will still have enemies."

"You cannot forget your roots. Africa is like mother and child; you can’t separate them."

"It’s not every day you find people that have a love for the motherland and want to showcase our talent."

"I am not sure if there is much difference in music anywhere in the world. The world is a small place now with information technology."

"As a Nigerian singer, people don’t need to understand a word of what you are saying to enjoy your music."

"If I were a politician, I would make sure to spread love among my people but eliminating tribalism."

"The best part of my job is the friendship i create with my clients and never knowing who would walk through my door. It is always a joy an honor to serve."

"Stage is something that has been there and will continue to be there."

"We know the African continent presents brilliant creatives and talent and I’m so excited for the rest of the world to enjoy our distinct voices."

"Many people are just doing business, and the thing about doing business is that people don’t care about artistic integrity, they just want to make money."

"The thing with stage is, the stage does not have a quick turnaround.”"

"Gone are the days when you say you want male or female. All genders are children. If you are fortunate to be blessed with one, be thankful to God. Any one you are given, appreciate it."

"It is the bargaining power of individuals that determines what they are paid."

"You just have to be very good at what you do."

"Everyday is memorable to me because I live each day as if I’m not going to wake up the next day."

"Remember, once a boxer always a boxer."

"Footballers and musicians make more money than actors. Actors are the least paid."

"If you’re into anything and nobody is appreciating you it’s like you’re not doing anything. But so far you have people around you, appreciating your work, it inspires you to forge ahead."

"There is no way you live and won’t have one or two negative stories to tell. But one thing about me is that so far I have overcome any"

"But you know as human beings, we are able to multi-task, evolve and adapt, especially when you have passion for what you do."

"There’s no excitement that can compare to that feeling and passion, the adrenaline when you’re on the runway and you have people cheering."

"I have never been one to believe in limitations. It’s the glory of God that makes me stand out from the crowd."

"My aim is to excel at whatever I do."

"Baby Blues was that project I went into and it felt like I wasn’t prepared for the depth of its discovery.There was always something to learn."

"Maturity has a lot to do with the mind and intelligent."

"It gets better as I get older, just like good wine."

"Cultivate the habit of saving/ investing. Years will pass by and you will be shocked at what you used your money to do."

"I am of the opinion that no matter your situation in life, you are not the first to go through such and neither would you be the last."

"I know my crafts and I can defend my handiwork wherever, whenever, and to whomever."

"My passion, commitment, resilience, and love for excellence always make me want to do things better and bigger."

"If there is poverty anywhere, anything can happen."

"Everybody is just thinking about how to survive and has thrown caution to the wind."

"The government really doesn’t need you, they need you to cover their fraud."

"Whatever it is, you keep working on things. You keep working things out. You are not going to give up on something you love."

"If you have to go bald, you go bald. If you have to carry warts on your face, you carry warts! Your body doesn’t belong to you, it belongs to the craft. That’s why you’ll never see such actors in serious projects. Producers and directors know how to sift the wheat from the chaff.Who cares about your good looks? People are paying for the characters they can relate with."

"In every film, there is a lesson to be learned."

"Religion is a thing even God has a problem with. We’re subjected to the servitude of our fellow men in the name of spirituality."

"What that means is that you want to do everything right. Anything worth doing is worth doing well."

"There is a saying that “A man that stops training or educating himself will soon become an illiterate”. So, you need to keep on learning because learning does not stop."

"The product is a function of people that have worked on it."

"It’s impossible to remain static in this world of technology. You’ve to keep moving. Even, if you’re not being pursued, you have to force yourself out of a particular spot. You have to move from good to better and better to best"

"And business like they say, getting to the top is not the major problem but retaining your top position."

"When people see me now they think, “These ones are lucky.” They had no idea what I went through."

"As a thespian, one had to be grounded in every area."

"You don’t have to produce a programme for the whole world. You should have your target. Mine is for the intellectuals and if they are enjoying it, then that works for me."

"As an actor, you don’t need a big role to act well."

"Focus on your dreams and aspirations and what you believe in. You don’t need to be a Jack of all trade and master of none. You should know that you are not going to start making money or become a don in a jiffy."

"When you do not call for help, how will they know you are sick?"

"If you allow the train to leave you, you should not blame anyone or say you are being segregated."

"Marriage is hinged on understanding. Once you understand yourselves you will be fine. It’s not like there won’t be problems, there will be but understanding helps you resolve it."

"If you need to survive, you need to act. So, for now, I keep doing it until that time comes when I will show the world that whatever comes my way, I can do."

"In marriage, you must look out for somebody who must be ready to suffer with you and accept you for who you are."

"One thing you have to know is that a wife makes the home. But a man gets the house."

"There is something about nature—everyone has their own time. Everyone has their turn. Someone who doesn’t make it today may succeed tomorrow. When it is your time, don’t overdo things. Someone else’s time will come too."