Speaking in a recent interview with Potpourri, the actor revealed that it has been years since he last auditioned for a role in Nigeria. According to him, producers should have a clear idea of the actors who can carry their lead roles, rather than relying heavily on casting calls.
“I can’t even remember the last time I auditioned in Nigeria,” Ninalowo said. “Even abroad, when they write scripts, they know exactly the actor they’re looking for. They have the actor and a substitute actor, just in case that person is not available. So if you’re a filmmaker today and you don’t know who you can potentially use, then you have a problem if you have to start auditioning.”
While acknowledging that auditions remain useful for supporting roles, he insisted that major characters should be cast with purpose and foresight.
“There are roles that you audition for, like minor or supporting roles, and you feel like, you know, let’s audition a few people. But for your main cast, you should already have an idea of the kind of people that you want. If these are not available, then you can always have a substitute—but that’s just being honest.”
Beyond the world of film, Ninalowo also opened up about his personal life, particularly his decision to take a step back at a crucial moment for his family. With his daughter now 19 and his son 17, the actor said he feels compelled to be present as they prepare to enter adulthood.
“My kids are going to college now, and I feel like that’s the most important age that I need to be present—showing them more about life and being there for them as they make life-long decisions into the next chapter of their lives,” he explained.
For Ninalowo, this season of life is about intentional sacrifice. “I had to make a big sacrifice of saying, look, what’s more important now to me? Thank God I made hay while the sun shone. There was a time I was in almost all movies—that was what was important to me then because my kids were much younger. But now they’re grown, and they need my attention a lot more. My legacy is my children, not the films that I make.”
With this perspective, the actor underscores a theme that transcends the glitz of Nollywood—balancing personal ambition with family responsibility, and recognizing that some roles, especially those at home, can never be recast.