David Ochayi
(Bunmi Nelson and Funke Akindele. Photo credit: PM Nigeria News)
Nollywood actress Bunmi Nelson has opened up about her past regrets of underestimating her colleague Funke Akindele during their early days in the industry.
During a candid podcast session, Nelson confessed she never foresaw Akindele’s meteoric rise to fame and influence in Nollywood.
The actress revealed she once rejected a collaboration opportunity with Akindele, remembering how the now-celebrated filmmaker had reached out to use her residence as a filming location.
Nelson shared that Akindele had even brought along veteran actress Mama Fali Werepe to her Magodo home for potential shoots, but she deliberately ignored the calls and dismissed the proposition.
Admitting her error in judgment, Nelson attributed her past behavior to certain “clouded perceptions” at that stage of her career.
Though actively involved in entertainment circles then and receiving multiple calls from Akindele between 2006-2007 when the filmmaker was recruiting talents for Yoruba cinema, Nelson chose to disregard these chances.
The actress now recognizes this missed opportunity as an important life lesson in remaining humble.
Reflecting on how circumstances change, Nelson emphasized that no one’s position in life is permanent, warning against dismissing others prematurely.
She pointed to Akindele’s extraordinary success – from those humble beginnings to becoming one of Nollywood’s most accomplished producers with numerous box office hits – as proof that potential isn’t always obvious at first glance.
