Francis Duru is undoubtedly one of Nollywood’s enduring faces. Since starring in Rattle Snake in 1994 which largely introduced him to the big screen, his acting career has remained on the high. The father of three speaks with ORUKPE NELSON on marriage, joy of fatherhood, loyalty to President Goodluck Jonathan, among other issues…

You were a lead character along with Nuella Njubigbo in the newly released movie, Last Slave. Why did you decide to be part of it?

It was a good script, the content was beautiful. Movies are not only meant to exhibit glamour, big houses, beauty, etc. To me, the most important thing is how much relevance that medium is.

I think too that a whole lot of our audience has lost that trait. Last Slave had the combination of virtually everything. It has intrigue, romance and social relevance.

The movie talks about human trafficking, which is slavery in contemporary terms. I don’t even know the director and producer of the movie, Henry Ozuluonye.

I had never worked with him prior to the movie. But he is a young man who has so much passion and desire for excellence. However, I see every good script that comes my way as a venture because you meet different production crew members. I must not know a director before I exercise my professional duties.

You’ve been in the industry for more than two decades; how have you been able to maintain relevance?

I give thanks to God for his grace because the Bible says without Him we can do nothing. I don’t even take my relationship with God for granted, it remains my source of longevity and what keeps me going.

I joined the entertainment industry in 1988 as an amateur, but I was lucky to have a very strong professional training and background. From an amateur, I went straight to the university where I did my professional course in theatre arts and a degree course. I have been able to tap from so many experienced persons in the industry too.

Every time, I drink from this experience to move to the next level. I had never seen anyone as a greenhorn or looked down on people. For me, every actor is an acting book that has not been written.

If your acting skills are bad I would look at how it could have been better. So, discipline, hard work, focus and the grace of God are my essential ingredients.

Which movie would you say brought you into limelight?

I would give it to Rattle Snake in 1994, directed by Amaka Igwe of blessed memory. But I am not where I am supposed to be right now. I still believe I have a whole lot of mileage and I learn each day.

I am looking for more movies that will make me to wake up 3.00am at night and pick up my script. The new level now is for producers to get me those challenging scripts, though money is still important because time is money.

What role has been the most challenging?

Every role is challenging, I must say. The course of building a believable character is so much of a psychological stress and requires energy. If I look at challenge in terms of environment I would love to talk about Eva.

The costumes were pieces and we were shooting inside the cold. I remember one harsh experience where Uncle Olu Jacobs and I were shooting and the light went off.

It was raining heavily too and we were just running in the dark without knowing the exact place we were headed. I cannot forget that experience. What kept us going was the passion.

When was the last time you were on set?

I was on set penultimate week and I am going back soonest. I have close to 20 new movies on the shelf. In every one month I know I work like three times. I started work just immediately after the elections because I don’t want to disrupt myself. I have done close to six movies since the elections were concluded.

The number is reduced just because I refused to take some movies; I wanted to do one movie at a time. The number of movies I do now are even more than my early days in the industry.

Can you do a movie without being paid?

I would rather feature in a movie if I am paid a stipend. I do that for friends, relations and for some certain favours you owe people. I cannot remember how much I was paid for Stigma. So, there are some friends who will come to you and you just have to do it.

What was the major factor that took you into movies?

It was natural. It sounds funny, but at a point I never nursed the thought of acting. And we had no entertainers in my family. The issue of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board contributed to this; so instead of being idle at home I decided to go along with friends.

On a particular day, they asked me to join them in a rehearsal in Port Harcourt and it started from there. Did your parents support this? My father never kicked against such thing. His happiness was that his son gained admission into the university; it didn’t matter what I was doing.

How would you describe fatherhood?

It is bottomless joy and unlimited. One of the best things that have ever happened to me is being a father. When I go out I know I am working for my family and it gives me joy. I am not doing some things I am supposed to do because I am a father, but I have no regrets about that. God has blessed me with wonderful kids and wife.

I have been married for 13 years. I have three kids, but I tell people I have four because my little niece is my kid too. My last child, a boy, is the only one showing the tendency to go into entertainment. He is six years old and he likes Patoranking so much.

My first child, 17, will be studying law in the University of Lagos. My niece is 14 years old, while my first son is 10.

Celebrities often seem to struggle to keep their marriages. How have you kept yours unbroken?

I don’t think marriages don’t survive because of the celebrity syndrome. I beg to disagree. The whole thing about marriage is that you may have individual differences. Before you became a celebrity you are an individual; your flaws do not come up because you are a celebrity. If things didn’t go well for two persons who are in this industry, I beg to disagree that it is because of the industry.

After all, we have seen lawyers, pastors, etc whose marriages didn’t work. So, why would that of a celebrity be an issue? I feel it is a total disservice being done to celebrities.

People should understand that what we take on is enough to show us respect and treat us with some kind of tender gloves, rather than making bad conclusions.

Beyond that, failed marriage depends on things that you and I don’t know. We cannot be here and know why a marriage crashed when the person didn’t tell us. So, a celebrity marriage that had collapsed is bound to happen because everything about celebrity and fame is vanity.

Marriage celebrates weaknesses and you must have tolerance and sacrifice. If you don’t understand this you better don’t go into marriage.

You mentioned that celebrity and fame is vanity; what do you really mean?

I attended the University of Port Harcourt and I was privileged to have gone through great minds. One of the greatest endorsements in my career came from late Professor Olawole Gladstone Rotimi.

After watching me perform as a kid in the University, he said “you are good, but do not let it get into your head.” So, I held on to that. Celebrity and fame is like a shirt I wear when I feel like and pull it off when I feel like.

It doesn’t matter if people don’t like it because I cannot allow anyone to define my choice. My individuality comes first and foremost. There are moments to play a superstar or a celebrity and there are moments you need to be yourself.

What are those qualities that stand you out in the industry?

I don’t really know, but people say I have depth and that I’m natural. I don’t play with any character and I go deep down to bring out the demands of such character. Secondly, I have a very strong professional stand and I don’t joke with the ethics. But the grace of God is the most important thing.

How would you describe Nollywood of yesterday and today?

Nollywood of yesterday was fun; it was all about passion, togetherness, excellence and people understanding the process. But Nollywood of today is all about fame, popularity, red carpet, glossy adverts, etc.

Everybody wants to become a star over night. I see myself as old fashion; I am conservative and I still believe in a process. These days you would even hardly see two actors eating together because of attitude and ego problem.

How do you feel when younger artists don’t give you recognition?

One thing about respect is that you don’t beg or look for it. If you’ve earned it, it would come your way. But I would like to appreciate some of them who have seen me in certain places and embraced me. I say boldly that I do have a wonderful time with younger artists. I have never had those moments of ridicule or show of disrespect.

Even if you do it I have nothing to get worried about, as I don’t expect everybody to like me or show me respect. Like I said, respect is something you earn; you don’t buy it.

As a young man how did you handle heartbreaks?

Heartbreak is heartbreak. It is just about feeling bad and having the desire to be with the so called person. The first time I ever had what I could call a significant heartbreak was when I had issue with my ex.

I was already a popular artist and that happened to be my first scandal. She was having issues with my present wife and they were the two girls in my life then. It was everywhere in the media. I think I have had my own share of heartbreaks too.

If given a second chance what would you change about you?

I would love to go back to secondary school and grab the opportunities I lost. I would have been playing the guitar, keyboard etc very well because I had the opportunities to learn them. I went to Sacred Heart College in Cameroun; it is one of the best schools over there. I was born in Cameroun and came to Nigeria in 1984.

Is your mother a Camerounian?

No, my parents are both Nigerians. They relocated to Cameroun in search of greener pastures. But growing up there was wonderful. It was not a lousy and radical society.

We looked out for each other and I was brought up within the tutelage of a catholic school and church. I was also an altar boy, so the environment I lived in was like a mentorship centre. I am a Pentecostal now and I worship with Family Worship Center since 2000.

Would you be outraged if your daughter acts nude?

First, I am so proud and happy with my daughter. The first thing I did was to invest some depth of spirituality in her because it is not how you bring up a child, but what you put into her.

I make bold to say she can never and she would never do such. She has a mindset of her own; we discuss like friends and I have made her to understand that there is nothing in this world that will stop me from being her father. Once you are able to instill spiritual depth in your child you can go to sleep. The whole idea of movie making is make-believe.

If someone projects nudity, he or she is willing to do it because there are many ways to avoid that. I have never played nude. Why would I do that? I can simulate lovemaking, but I will never go nude. I don’t care who likes it or doesn’t like it.

President Goodluck Jonathan had massive support from entertainers, especially Nollywood practitioners; what do you think worked against him at the last elections?

There was a betrayal and sabotage internally and externally. We should also understand that the kind of politics we do today is along ethnic and religious lines. Many people were disenfranchised in the South-East, South-South and parts of Sout-West and those were the places the incumbent was expected to pick up votes. But that doesn’t change my loyalty to the man I call the hero of our time.

Today, you and I could move freely because President Jonathan conceded and people even insulted him for that. Many people were waiting for the fall of Nigeria and Mr. President scarified his personal ambition.

The fact that the card reader rejected him twice was enough to call off the elections, but it threatens the existence of Nigeria. Politics is not constant; tomorrow could go another way because it is all about interest. I am a card carrying member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I am Jonathan’s loyalist and I am proud of that.

Are there no fears that the incoming president would ignore Nollywood since he didn’t enjoy your support?

I think the finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was not a kid to say part of the things that had contributed to the GDP of the nation was Nollywood. The entertainment industry has become a strong platform for job creation.

But I don’t think the new president is that kind who will initiate any vindictiveness, etc. It would be out of place to do that. Government didn’t do all those things to favour us; they saw the potential in Nollywood. I expect the new government to look at how they can improve what Jonathan had done. Moreover, whether the government pays attention to Nollywood or not, it doesn’t affect the growth of the industry.

Was Nollywood not doing well during Obasanjo’s regime? I am not scared of whatever happens. I hope Nigerians give the new president free hand to work because I see in him a man who really wants to work. I would just sit and watch, but I would do everything that needs to be done as a good citizen. I would respect the president and my nation.

Do you intend to delve into active politics?

As time goes on, if the opportunity comes, I would serve my nation in whatever capacity. But it won’t be a do-or-die affair.