Shola ‘Lagata’ Akintunde, a prominent Nigerian actor known for his roles in the Yoruba film industry, has recently opened up about the impact of his frequent portrayal of criminal characters.
In an interview on Oyinmomo, Akintunde revealed that he is now turning down certain criminal roles because they are affecting his ability to secure brand endorsements and other professional opportunities.
I’ve started declining some of those criminal roles because I realized they were limiting my chances of getting endorsements from brands, he explained.
A man once told me that if Nigeria legalized guns, I would be the face of the campaign, and that left me confused. These roles are depriving me of so many things.
Akintunde noted that actors who regularly play criminal characters can be perceived as irresponsible, which has prompted him to diversify his portfolio and take on gentler roles. People see those who play such roles as irresponsible.
That’s why I’ve made a conscious effort to avoid certain criminal roles and branch out into other, more positive characters.
The actor clarified that he did not intentionally seek out criminal roles. His first acting experience was as a thug, a performance that impressed both Sola Aderounmu and his boss, Dele Odule, who encouraged him to explore similar characters. “I didn’t choose to play criminals,” Akintunde said. “My first scene was as a thug, and both Sola Aderounmu and my boss thought I did well because of my height and stern features. They encouraged me to focus on such roles.”
He added that his boss took him to rehearsals to further hone his skills in these roles, and his performance alongside Dele Odule in another film earned him further praise and encouragement to continue in this direction.
