Kayode Akinbayo, popularly known as Bayo Eleregele, is rising like a shinning star in the movie industry. In this encounter with SEUN RACHAEL SUMANU, the graduate of Marketing from the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, speaks on his journey into Nollywood, his passion and aspiration.

WHo is Kayode Akinbayo?

Kayode Akinbayo hails from Ijebu, Odogbolu in Ogun State. I came from the family of seven – two boys, three girls – and I happen to be the last born.

Can you tell us about your educational background?

I attended Premier Day Nursery and Primary School. I later proceeded to Lagos Model College Meiran, Lagos State. I finished my secondary education at Yaba Boys Secondary School. I gained admission to Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, in 2005 to study Marketing.

What is your favourite meal?

I love amala with ewedu.

Are you married?

I am not married, but I have got someone in my life.

What are your hobbies?

I love travelling, meeting people, making people around me happy.

Which religion do you practice?

My dad is a Christian while my mum is a Muslim. She is an Alhaja but I prefer to go with my dad so I am a Christian.

How did you get into the movie industry?

I have got passion for it since I was a kid, but professionally, I got into the movie industry in 2004/2005 through a popular actress called Opeyemi Aiyeola. She has been wonderful; she has been there for me. She has been doing something before I came into the Yoruba sector of the movie industry. I have also been acting some soap opera by Leke Adeoye before I came into the Yoruba sector. I will like to thank him too because he has been there for me.

You have been in the industry for a while. How many movies have you featured in?

I can’t count them.

Can you give us the range?

I think I should have featured in over 70 movies.

Can you mention the name of some of the movies you have featured in?

Omokehinde, Olorun Atijo, Jigi Mi, Yomuyomu, Idan Ni, Ojo Gbogbo, Laroda Ojo, Bi a ti ko, Agbeko, and Bayo Eleregele. Those are the ones I can remember. Bayo Eleregele is the one that brought me into limelight, I should always mention that. It was produced by Tope Bali. Thank God for that movie.

Were your parents in support of your choice?

Yes, right from the unset that I told them that I wanted to be an actor.

How many movies have you produced?

I have not produced any movie for now.

Have you directed any movie?

I have not directed any.

Why?

I don’t want to be like some other people. I have a plan of going abroad to study more about movie, most especially directing and film making, not producing or directing just any movie.

Have you rejected any role before?

No. I have not rejected any movie. I believe as an actor you should be very versatile; you should be able to play any role. As an actor, you should be able to play young, old, house boy, a gate-man – that makes you an actor.

Which is your most challenging role?

It was Okun Ife, where I acted as an handicapped with one leg. From the beginning of the movie to the end of it, I used one leg to shoot, it was very very challenging. You know they have to tie one of my legs backward, I have to pretend like I have got one one leg. It was only three scenes that I used my both legs. After then I used one leg throughout. It was not easy at all but I thank God I did it and most of my fans really appreciated it.

You seem to take part only in Yoruba movies?

For now, I have not featured in any English movies. But very soon, I have the plan of featuring in English movies.

What can you say about Nollywood?

Nollywood to me is still trying but we have not really got to that stage, the international stage. Nollywood is trying. At least in the world we are like number three or four. So, they still have something to show for it. Nollywood is going to grow and we will be producing fantastic movies. We will move up to the international standard one day because a mansion is not built in a day.

Being a student, how do you cope with academic and entertainment?

Well, I am through with my school now. But when I was in school, it was not easy because I had to write test, write attendance, assignment and I had to be on location the following day. It was not easy at all. Thank God for my lecturers like Mr Judge, Mr Lawal and others, they really tried for me and they understood me. Also I will like to thank the Head of Department of Marketing, Mr Aliyu Odunmbaku. When I was in school, he really helped me.

Aside from acting, what other things do you do?

I am a good singer and I take pleasure in it. I have always wanted to be a music star and not a movie star but as God wants it, I am a movie star. But I still have a plan to do something about music later in the future because I got the talent. I am into modelling as well.

So in the music industry, who is your role model?

God first, also kudos to 2Face Idibia. I love 2Face a lot – I love his style of music. He is one of my role models in the music industry that I admire most.

What is your philosophy of life?

Just do good because what goes around comes around.

What advice do you have for upcoming artistes?

My advice to them is that they should try as much as possible to get something in terms of their education, even if it is only National Diploma (ND) because there is nothing you want to do in life now that you don’t need to be educated. They should try to go to school because school is very important and with that the sky is their limit. With education first, they should try to go for audition always.

For the women, you don’t need to open your legs for any director or producer before they will give you script. If you are good, they will look for you without opening your legs for them and God will take you to the next level from there.

What advice do you have for pirates?

I know they will read what I am saying, I want them to be careful. We will be on location sweating and shooting our movie and within two days, the movie will be pirated. I am just using the medium to beg you guys, we are the ones struggling, sweating to shoot these movies and it is not nice after shooting it, and you guys will go and start pirating it.

I believe the government should just do something about it, it is really affecting us. If you don’t stop pirating our movies, you will all be in soup. You know I have begged you before but now I am warning you – stop pirating our movies.

Now that you are through with your HND, what next?

I will be going for my NYSC after which I might be travelling out of the country to study a course in the United Kingdom.

How do you cope with your female fans?

It has not been easy at all because I respect women a lot – they are like our mothers. There is nothing you want to do in life that you don’t need a woman. Most of them want to be around me, they want to be my friend, they want to be my facebook friends, they want to be my baby friend and I just give them the little attention I have.

Are you working on any film presently?

I am not working on any movie now.

As they say a tree does not make a forest, who are those that also added positively to your career in the industry?

Well firstly, it is God and some people like Tope Bali, Bakky Adeoye, Opeyemi Aiyeola, Faithia Balogun, Lola Alao, Funsho Adeolu, Oladipupo Olajide and Yomi Fash.

Have you received any award?

Yes, I have won a series of award. I won the Nollywood award – the Revelation of the year 2009 and and last year I was nominated for the City People award for the Best Supporting Actor of the Year 2010, the New Face of the Year and the Recognition Award.

Who is your role model in the industry.

First my role model is God, but I have some people like Yinka Quadri – he is a fantastic actor.

A message to your fans?

Just do good and not bad because one day you will be rewarded for what you have done in life. I promise not to disappoint my fans, I promise to give them what they want. They have seen nothing about me, I have not even started at all. I promise them the best. I love you all.