Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has revealed the immense personal sacrifices she made to achieve the record-breaking box office success of her film Behind The Scenes, which has grossed N2.7 billion in Nigeria.
Total Dedication to the Craft
In an interview with Bella Naija, Akindele disclosed that the production period demanded total dedication, leaving little room for anything outside of work. She stopped attending social events, neglected her hair unless a red carpet or major outing required it, and often forgot to eat. Sleepless nights became routine as she poured herself completely into the project.
“What I do differently to achieve this level of success is lots of work. When I say 'a lot of work,' it means giving your all. I abandoned myself for work; I didn't even make my hair, except when I am going on the red carpet or somewhere important. I don't attend parties, I don't go to greet people at home, I quit everything. I'm neck-deep in work; I sacrifice my time for it. It's now that I am relaxed, feeling fresh, doing the skincare. It was a lot of sacrifice, sleepless nights, forgetting to eat, giving my all,” she said.
Behind The Scenes' Massive Box Office Run
The film's commercial performance has been nothing short of remarkable. With N2.7 billion grossed, it stands among the highest-earning Nollywood productions in recent memory, further establishing Funke Akindele as the dominant force in Nigerian cinema. The actress noted that she is now enjoying the rewards of that intense period, finally taking time for rest and personal care.
Fans React to Akindele's Story
Her candid admission resonated strongly with followers online. Social media reactions included:
- @richyz_official: “It's always good to have the right role model? Yes. It's important, because, it's will really motivate you more.”
- @ProsperUfo7253: “I see that and she does it better respect to her”
- @chi_omalicha15: “Behind the scenes movie is a huge success. She over did herself, the movie is super good.”
- @richyz_official added: “This what will called? Self determination”
- @pamilhereen: “She's so smart and intelligent”
Funke Akindele Explains Dancing to Promote Movies
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Akindele revealed why she dances to promote her movies. She explained that the practice began out of necessity during Battle on Buka Street when she lacked funds for a conventional PR campaign, so she created dance content at home and shared it online until audiences connected with it. Akindele emphasised that dancing is part of her personality, not a calculated act, and credited her mother for passing down the love of dance while stressing that other filmmakers can choose their own unique promotional styles.
