The Award-winning actress, Kehinde Bankole, has described working with a powerhouse cast of Nollywood veterans in the movie, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, as a wonderful experience.
In an interview with Saturday Beats, she said, “One of the
most incredible aspects of this project was working with ‘giants’ in the
industry, such as Adebayo Salami (Oga Bello), Jide Kosoko, Dele Odule, and Joke
Silva.
Their experiences and guidance were invaluable throughout
the filming process. The opportunity to learn from those established actors
added another layer of significance to my performance in the movie. Having
their support and witnessing their professionalism firsthand was an enriching
experience. It was lovely indeed.”
She added that acting alongside Oga Bello was another high
point of working on the movie for her. She said, “Another exciting angle for me
was Adebayo Salami and I facing off as ‘Alake’ and ‘Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti’
respectively. It is a beautiful thing to have our words coincide on screen, but
experiencing it during filming was truly special.”
Inspired by her legacy, I felt compelled not to delay taking
action. That is why I founded The Kehinde Bankole Foundation’s ‘What About the
People’, which is focused on enlightening and equipping underserved
communities.
Just like FRK, I want
to use my voice to advocate in whatever way I can for a brighter future for
Nigerians.”
Take acting from Kehinde who is Kehinde Bankole in real life?
I joke a lot, I like to laugh, when I am in the mood, we
crack jokes and laugh and I also have a good time. I love to cook, I love
spending time with family, loved ones and friends. I like to make people happy,
and I can be very strict.
What is your take on the state of the industry before you
joined and now?
Yes there are lots of changes; those who are ahead of us
have done a lot of work. Now, there are so many opportunities, there are young
producers and actors. It is spreading everywhere, the media is coming to us and
we are also going to the media. It is not everybody in the entertainment
industry that is acting, everybody is doing serious work here, there are
editors, cinematographers, and it is way better than it was before.
How have you been able to keep off scandals?
I keep things simple; simplicity is what makes you stay away
from trouble, when you keep everything simple, it makes whatever comes back to
you simple.
What are some of the memorable moments on set of the
film?
To be honest, every moment on set was memorable Kehinde Bankole needs no introduction in the movie industry as the brilliant actress has carved a niche for herself through the quality of productions she has been involved in and her artistic delivery. Bankole won the 2024 Best Actress in a Lead Role at the AMVCA and she has equally featured in countless movies. In this interview with MUTIAT LAWORE, Bankole spoke on her role in the biopic, “Funmilayo-Ransome Kuti,” the thin line between stage acting and movies and what she considers a good script among others. Excerpts:
Showbiz and one cannot
trade them at all. Don’t for- get I have worked in several projects as a
filmmaker, but this is just a standard and well structured production. You
can’t work with Bolanle Austen Production (BAP) and expect something less
knowing her love and passion for any- thing theatre. The set was memorable from
the quality of cast involved, to filming with Peter Thomas, the Deputy Head of
Mission at the British High Commission in Lagos, and having the Kuti Family on
ground. Also playing with pets and tortoise, and eating good, indigenous meals
in Abeokuta, Ogun State, among others were interesting. It was a blast!