Uzor Arukwe Slams Nollywood filmmakers for Casting Actors Based on their Instagram Followers

Uzor Arukwe, known for his dynamic roles in Nollywood, showed up a bit late to a press briefing for his latest movie, "Criminal," looking dashing in a pair of pink Valentino slides. He had spent the day on another film set and was now ready to plunge into a night full of interviews and social media promotions for the movie directed by Dolapo Adigun and written by Niyi Akinmolayan.

In "Criminal," Arukwe plays an ex-convict who is captivating in leading a gang that takes over a hospital; he finds his way into the heart of such roles. His passion for the role was obvious when he made jokes about being on-screen persona in an attempt to defend cast camaraderie during a heated debate.

Arukwe’s journey is unlike that of many of his peers as he never began as a model but rather honed his skills in theatre. This unique background of his has helped him to stand out in an industry that is increasingly fixated on social media followership. “I started at the very bottom, it was tough because the industry was all about Instagram and Twitter,” Arukwe said. “I remember thinking ‘yes, those numbers are great but can they act?’ It has always been my guiding principle.”

His big break came with Sugar Rush (2019) where he played Toke Makinwa’s husband, propelling him into limelight and subsequently giving him lead roles in movies like Prophetess (2021), The Set Up 2 (2022) and A Tribe Called Judah (2023), which turned out to be Nollywood’s highest grossing film ever. “It has been quite challenging but my love for acting makes it all worth it,” reflecting on his career.

Arukwe does not have much complexity in the way he sees his job; just doing what he loves without minding how popular it would make him.

The Arukwe's approach to his work is deceptively simple- he doesn't run after fame but focuses on delivering brilliant performances. "I don’t bother much about being relevant. I figure that if I give a quality job, it will be enough to keep the offers coming," he said. This philosophy has kept him grounded and scandal-free, even in the midst of complexities of celebrity life.

Discussing Nollywood’s future, Arukwe showed his joy for the industry's transformation from making low budget movies to making global impacts and even contending for Oscars. However, he has concerns about method acting which can be too intensive and disruptive. "Method acting isn’t always appropriate. It's about striking a balance in your performance technique depending on the scene," he observed.

Arukwe is not only interested in local recognition; he has bigger dreams of showcasing his skills internationally. "I have always wanted to work in Hollywood or any other major film market like South Africa or England. I am looking forward to being part of projects that will outlive me and have a worldwide audience," he disclosed.

Uzor Arukwe’s devotion to his craft and his vision of the future reveals a man who values truth and storytelling so much, hoping to make an impact not only in Nollywood but also in the world cinema system as well.