Biodun Okeowo popularly known as Tolani Osinrin is a movie star in the Yoruba genre who is rising in the industry. The beautiful actress spoke with BAYO ADEOYE on her career, relationship and challenges.

It’s been a while since we saw you in a movie, did you take a brief leave?

No, I have been acting, I never stopped acting. That’s means you don’t watch Yoruba movies at all. I was in Ojagemo which has just been released recently and many others. I never took a leave I am as busy as ever.

How many movies have you featured in recently?

I have featured in over ten movies between December 2010 to January this year.

But people don’t so much talk about you like other actresses?

May be it’s because I keep a low profile. I am an introvert.

Do you think this is helping your career?

My being an introvert is in the sense that I don’t party, I don’t go to club. In fact it’s in me. It’s not that I’m borrowing someone’s method.

When was the last time you went for social outing?

About five years ago before I started acting.

Is your boyfriend also an introvert?

Yes.

How did you spend your valentine day?

At home, with my boyfriend.

Do you have friends in the industry?

I have acquaintances but I don’t have a close friend. So everybody is my friend.

Have you produced any movie at all?

Yes, Edidi Igbeyawo and Asise Nla, they both storm market the same day.

What message do the movies convey to the public?

Edidi Igbeyawo is about a gold digger while Asise Nla focuses on infidelity in marriage.

What motivated you to write about marriage when you are not married?

Although I am not married, I am an actress. I see what goes around. I am a preacher. Even if I don’t have the experience, I have elderly ones that do. I have my parents too.

How old are you?

I am in my 30s.

When do you want to settle down?

Very soon.

Is your boyfriend not putting pressure on you to settle down with him?

We live virtually like husband and wife.

Is it morally right?

No, it is not.

What message are you passing to the younger generation or fans?

I will like to say something here. I wouldn’t want to talk about my private life.

There was a report in a magazine that you slept with one Demola Oyefeso and that he gave you N50, 000 after the whole show. How true
is that?

I don’t know him. I have never met him. All I know about him is that Wasiu Ayinde had once praised sing him in one of his songs.

Are you sure you don’t know him?

To God who made me, I don’t know him. I have never dated any public figure.

But there is this saying that there is no smoke without fire, where do you think the story could have come from?

I don’t know, maybe some people who just wanted to destroy me. I have not slept with any other man except my boyfriend. I am not cheap
so as to sleep with a man for just N50, 000. A man I have not met before sent 500, 000 to my account without having a relationship with me.
Interesting, what if he comes tomorrow and demands for sex?
I won’t offer him, I am not a flirt.

What do you think you have that is so special to your boyfriend that nobody can offer him?

I am confident that no one can take my man from me.

What do you think you have that your man cannot find in other ladies?

I will say my honesty.

What do you think you have done that will make him not to ever forget you?

A lot that I cannot remember. Okay let me call him to remind me of one. Oh! That reminds me of a day he took me somewhere.

How did you meet?

We met in 2006 and he made advances at me, but I declined initially, but he kept pestering me for close to a year before I finally succumbed.

Really? A year, he must be a patient person. Did you inform him that you already have two children?

Yes, I told him.

At what point of the relationship did you do that?

From the onset and he is playing fatherly roles to them.

How come you don’t have a friend in the industry?

Like I said, I don’t have close friends in the industry. I have colleagues who we interact when we meet on locations. I don’t play, talk or laugh with people in the industry. I greet, play and joke with people on location. But I don’t have a close friend in the industry and this does not necessarily mean that I don’t have close friends. They might be out of the industry.

We understand that you can’t grow without a godfather in the industry. Who is your godfather?

I will use this oppurtinity to say thank you to Ray Eyiwunmi’s family, because I believe that if you do things in the right way, you will always have your way. I think I did my things in the right way or channel. I had a good beginning through them such that when I was with them, I never was in haste to make my way to the stardom. I believe there is time for everything in life and the right time will definitely come.

Why did you break up with them?

I never broke up with them until I had my freedom.

Did you train under him?

Yes.

How did you get to the top?

By practice and determination.

There is a rumour that no actress gets to the top without paying a price?

I would say the price I paid is hard work and determination to make a living through acting. At times, I go for rehearsal on Saturdays instead of going to party. And if you are bringing up a person and you see the seriousness you will be moved or willing to help.

Why is it that most actresses in the industry sleep their way to the top?

Really? How do you come about this because I have never come across such?

We found out in an interview with an actress in the industry

May that is her own point of view or maybe she is one of them. But I say it here authoritatively that I have never slept my way to the top.

Do you believe there is sexual harassment in the industry?

No I don’t believe it.

How come you are the first person to say this?

May be it’s because I never experienced it.