Many see him as a sex symbol and one of the
leading hunks of the Yoruba films but Femi Adebayo would tell you he is just an actor
who strives to interpret his roles as best as he could. The ‘Jelili’ star in an
exclusive interview with NET speaks on his father’s influence on his career,
his marriage crash, his perceived rivalry with Odunlade Adekola among other
issues….
See excerpts below:
It is believed that there is a
rivalry between you and Odunlade Adekola. What do you have to say about that?
rivalry between you and Odunlade Adekola. What do you have to say about that?
Odunlade Adekola is one of my
very good friends. We don’t see ourselves as rivals. Outside our profession, we
see, we talk, we relate, we rub minds; we even share ideas regarding how to
live our private lives. That automatically negates the word rivalry you are
talking about. We are not rivals, we are friends, and we are colleagues.
very good friends. We don’t see ourselves as rivals. Outside our profession, we
see, we talk, we relate, we rub minds; we even share ideas regarding how to
live our private lives. That automatically negates the word rivalry you are
talking about. We are not rivals, we are friends, and we are colleagues.
We do
our things and our fans appreciate us.
our things and our fans appreciate us.
What would you say distinguishes you from him?
Odunlade is a very tall man and I am not tall, I think that’s one of
the very obvious differences between us. But we have a lot in common. Odunlade
is a very fantastic actor; I am a very fantastic actor as well.
the very obvious differences between us. But we have a lot in common. Odunlade
is a very fantastic actor; I am a very fantastic actor as well.
We interpret
our roles the way we feel it should be interpreted. We share the same date of
birth. We are in the same industry. He is friendly, I’m friendly; he is down to
earth and I’m equally down to earth.
our roles the way we feel it should be interpreted. We share the same date of
birth. We are in the same industry. He is friendly, I’m friendly; he is down to
earth and I’m equally down to earth.
Have you achieved all you set out to
achieve with you career? I think I am achieving it; I am not there yet.
achieve with you career? I think I am achieving it; I am not there yet.
I am still
moving up. I have achieved a lot but I think I can do more.
moving up. I have achieved a lot but I think I can do more.
What are the things
you are yet to achieve?
you are yet to achieve?
They are more personal to me. I know that there is
still more for me to achieve.
still more for me to achieve.
Many believe that your dad’s success in the movie
industry is the reason why you have gotten this far. Well, there is no doubt about it.
I owe my success to him. I can’t rule out the fact that daddy’s name has helped
me. I give glory to God and I want to thank my dad about that. I have received
several awards locally and international and I have always dedicated the award
to my dad, because his success in the profession made me what I am today. If
you want to say I rode on daddy’s success, you are perfectly right. And if you
think people appreciate me because I am Adebayo Salami’s son, you are perfectly
right as well.
industry is the reason why you have gotten this far. Well, there is no doubt about it.
I owe my success to him. I can’t rule out the fact that daddy’s name has helped
me. I give glory to God and I want to thank my dad about that. I have received
several awards locally and international and I have always dedicated the award
to my dad, because his success in the profession made me what I am today. If
you want to say I rode on daddy’s success, you are perfectly right. And if you
think people appreciate me because I am Adebayo Salami’s son, you are perfectly
right as well.
What was the
experience like for you while growing up?
experience like for you while growing up?
Growing up was fun. I was a very naughty
boy when I was young, very stubborn but trust me very friendly as well. I grew
up in the ghetto in Ebute Metta to be precise. My dad was very strict. I am
very glad that I lived in a ghetto because I have been able to strike a balance
between the people at the grassroots and people at the top and that makes life
more sensible to me.
boy when I was young, very stubborn but trust me very friendly as well. I grew
up in the ghetto in Ebute Metta to be precise. My dad was very strict. I am
very glad that I lived in a ghetto because I have been able to strike a balance
between the people at the grassroots and people at the top and that makes life
more sensible to me.
Recently, the media was awash with
the news that you were planning to remarry soon, how true is that?
the news that you were planning to remarry soon, how true is that?
Well
marriage is a thing of joy, If I want to get married, I won’t hide it but trust
me, I am not getting married any time soon. I have no plans of getting married
for now. I don’t even have a wife-to-be for now. But If I eventually see a lady
that I am comfortable with, I will definitely marry her.
marriage is a thing of joy, If I want to get married, I won’t hide it but trust
me, I am not getting married any time soon. I have no plans of getting married
for now. I don’t even have a wife-to-be for now. But If I eventually see a lady
that I am comfortable with, I will definitely marry her.
Do you have any regret parting
ways with the mother of your three children?
ways with the mother of your three children?
I believe in destiny, and I take things the way they come.
Marriage is a contract between two parties and in a contract you can have
someone breaching the contract. I believe that is how the marriage is destined
to end and I am cool with it….
Marriage is a contract between two parties and in a contract you can have
someone breaching the contract. I believe that is how the marriage is destined
to end and I am cool with it….