Nollywood filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has opened up about a private phone call from actress and producer Funke Akindele, as he responded to backlash trailing his recent comments about box office earnings and film promotion.
Speaking in an interview with Arise News, Afolayan revealed that Akindele called him directly after his remarks sparked online reactions, accusing him of taking a swipe at her marketing style.
“She called, and she said, ‘I know you don’t like me, but don’t mention my name in your interviews,’ she was yelling, and she dropped the phone after that,” he said.
Afolayan described the exchange as unexpected, noting their long history.
“It was weird, and I’m like, where is this coming from. She’s like a sister to me. In Unilag, I would go to her hostel; her sister is also my friend, so I am not sure where this is coming from.”
The filmmaker clarified that his earlier statement, where he said he was not interested in making ₦1 billion or ₦2 billion at the cinema if he could not take home at least ₦10 million was not aimed at any colleague.
“I never said anything was wrong with it. For me, it’s draining. I have absolutely nothing against it. I’m just saying what I will not do.”
According to him, the comment was made during a business discussion about cinema sustainability.
“The honest truth is, it was a forum, it was a film business forum, and we had the cinema operators there, and the cinema operators were asking me, when are you coming back to cinema, and I said, I can’t come to cinema if you cannot guarantee that I will make substantial money.”
Afolayan admitted the controversy escalated beyond his intention and offered an apology if Akindele felt offended.
“If for any reason she feels offended, I’m sorry.”
However, he also criticised the online attacks that followed the incident.
“But one thing she has done, which I think is totally wrong, and I would never do this kind of thing, is to use social media rats to come after whoever it is.”
Despite the tension, Afolayan praised Akindele’s career growth and business strategy, describing her journey as deliberate.
“I clearly said to them (young filmmakers), that if you want to adopt a model that I think will work for you now, then follow Funke Akindele’s model,” he said. “Funke started at a younger age, and then she did Jenifa with minimal budget, rolling resources, and from then, look at Funke’s brand now, she has grown.”
The latest development adds another layer to the ongoing conversation about marketing strategies, cinema profits, and sustainability in Nollywood.
Actress Regina Chukwu has also weighed in on the wider debate, sharing a post urging colleagues to focus on their own paths without shading others.