Veteran Nollywood actress Bimbo Akintola has expressed concern about the changes in the industry, noting that unlike the earlier days of her career, Nollywood now seems to prioritise looks and physical appearance over true passion for the craft.
In a recent conversation with her colleague, Ayo Adesanya, Akintola reflected on how much the industry has evolved over the years, emphasising the stark contrast between Nollywood’s earlier focus on talent and today’s growing obsession with physical appearance.
She recalled how legends like Joke Silva and Sola Sobowale embodied true dedication to the craft, often sacrificing comfort to bring stories to life. According to her, Nollywood actors in the past were driven purely by passion, not money or glamour.
Reminiscing about those days, Akintola said actors would often work long hours, sometimes overnight, without concern for food or pay, simply for the joy of storytelling.
However, she observed that things are different now, as many actors are more preoccupied with makeup, fashion, and physical looks, with some even resorting to Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) procedures.
Bimbo Akintola stressed that while beauty and appearance may fade, genuine artistry is what truly stands the test of time.
She said:
“The passion is gone… When we joined the industry, we were passion-driven. How much were we paid? It was not about money but the passion to make a difference. Everyone was passionate about the work, the likes of Joke Silva and Shola Sobowale were also passionate about the work. You had people who would not sleep but work overnight, not in a hotel but on set.”
Further emphasising her point, Bimbo Akintola added:
“It was not about glamour, it is gritty sometimes and reality, we reflect life back at society. When we do a stage play, you see the passion in actors who want to give their best in the presence of the audience. But today, people are selective of their look, outfit, which is why there is a spike in BBL. Everyone is now focused on BBL. It’s now about looks and not content.”
