Actor, Baaj Adebule, speaks with KORE OGIDAN on his career and other issues

What can you recall of your background?

I had a pretty decent background; I didn’t lack anything that I needed. I went to good schools, wore good clothes and visited nice places. I had wonderful siblings and it was a great environment to have been brought up in.

What’s your educational history?

I attended Seat of Wisdom Primary School, Surulere, Lagos State, for my elementary education and Caleb International College, Ikosi Ketu, Lagos for my secondary education. I graduated from Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, where I bagged a degree in Economics. There was a lot of discipline involved in my childhood and for that, I am eternally grateful.

How long have you been in the film industry?

I came into the industry sometime in 2012 and that is when I started acting. It has been an adventure ever since.

What were the challenges you faced at the beginning of your career?

The major challenge I faced starting out was learning how to act. I jumped into the profession without having a good grasp of the basics and the skill itself. It was more of a passion for me and that was not enough. Even having just the drive won’t do; you must have the knowledge and the knowhow to go far. I came into the industry with only passion, and not knowledge. I had the right work ethics, was hard-working and driven and was in love with the profession but I lacked the understanding of acting. The early years of my career were spent learning, at auditions and from home. I downloaded many books and participated in many acting classes online and learnt up close from other actors.

Another challenge was getting opportunities because it is a very dense market. There are many people looking for the opportunity to showcase themselves with a very limited market for such, and there are many people trying to take advantage of young actors looking for an opportunity to be recognised. It is important to know how to navigate the waters – know where to go and where not to, know whom to speak to and many other things like that. It was good in the end because it was a learning process for me.

What are the challenges you are currently facing?

Regarding the skill, I still don’t think that I am anywhere near where I want to be as far as my acting is concerned. I still do many things I used to do back then, just at a different level. I still download materials to help my acting. I still ask questions and try to learn more from filmmakers and actors around me. Another problem is trying to do what you want. I am very particular about the kinds of projects I want to do but unfortunately, I can’t always get my way because such projects come once in a long while. If you decide to only take the projects you particularly want, there is a fat chance that you may not work for a long time. You have to find a way to motivate yourself to do certain projects that you don’t fancy and you must give your best.

How different has the experience been since getting in and adjusting?

It is like living on two different planets. It has been amazing. It has gone from me walking on the street without being recognised to leaving my door with everyone knowing who I am. Everyone wants to take pictures and I get to meet people I never imagined meeting – people from all ‘walks of art’. It is a surreal experience. Of course, there have been negative sides as well. It took a while for me to adjust to my new life of fame especially because I am an introvert and celebrity life is different on all levels. Also, the support I get daily is overwhelming.

What were you doing prior to acting?

I worked in a corporate organisation as a customer representative and operations person. It was nice and I had good people around me. I didn’t leave my job for entertainment because my colleagues made me uncomfortable; I actually left because I had a strong passion for acting. I learnt so much from the people I worked with. No matter how great it was though, I just felt like I was meant to be outside doing something else.

What determines the kind of scripts you accept?

I am a very passionate actor; so, I am very picky about the scripts I accept. Firstly, it has to do with the story and the role (I am offered). I like to know what exactly the story is set to achieve and the audience it will appeal to. I find that I am drawn to playing the lead character but that’s not the determining factor.

What has been the highlight of your career?

They come in different phases because with every stage in my career, there is a highlight. For the sake of this interview and my fans, I would say the TV series, Hush because its reception was very unexpected and unprecedented. Till now, I call it the role of a lifetime. You can almost not find an actor who won’t have wanted to play the character, Adze Tsenogu, because of his evolution. Other highlights include starring in my fist cinema movie, A Soldier’s Story and playing my first lead role in a TV series called Undergrads.

What are your hobbies?

I enjoy watching movies, TV series, animes and cartoons. I also love sports.

How would you describe your fashion sense?

I like to look unique but not to break the runway or Internet. I like to play with colours and styles that other people don’t typically wear. I like to feel comfortable and look classy.

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