Veteran actor, Chief
Kanran, is ready to roll out the drums as he celebrates his 50th anniversary as
an actor. In an exclusive chat with Saturday Beats, the actor revealed that
about N50m would be spent on the weeklong celebration.
He said that the money would be got from
well meaning Nigerians, government and corporate organisations.
“The chairman of the occasion is Deji
Etiiwe, who is an actor, publisher and producer. The event would last for a
week. There will be a three-day performance, a seminar has been lined up and I
will also be launching a book titled, ‘Who is Segun Remi?’
I also have a movie
that I want to launch. During the weeklong celebration, there will be a dinner
and award night which is aimed at celebrating prominent Nigerians who have made
their marks in the society. Veterans in the industry will be recognized, especially
those that are hardly celebrated. With each award given, I intend to back it up
with either money or a gift that will forever be appreciated by the recipients.
We are going to partner with the government and well-meaning Nigerians to
sponsor the event; it’s going to be elegant. The event will cost about N50m but
various companies and the government would be sponsors. It will be to their
advantage because it will be an avenue for them to advertise their products.
The government, both states and federal, would be a part of the celebration
because it is their way of appreciating an artiste who has been making the
country proud for over half a century,” he said.
He described his journey to stardom as a
rough one, noting that he has never regretted being an actor.
He said, “The journey to stardom has
been rough but we thank God for the past 50 years. All through my 50 years as
an actor, I have never regretted my choice of career. However, it makes me sad
when I travel and see our contemporaries abroad. An actor of my caliber should
be a billionaire by now but such is not the case in Nigeria. Our government
does not appreciate our profession.
The only time we are useful to them is
during political campaigns or when they want to publicise themselves and that
is not right. From the days of Ogunde, artistes have been neglected by the
government. If Ogunde did not have property which he used as collateral to
obtain loans for his celluloid films, only God knows what would have happened
to his career.
Look at Baba Sala who went to borrow money to shoot a movie, he
was wrecked by pirates. I am also a victim of piracy. Four years ago, I spent
over N8m on a project but I cannot premiere it because I am scared of pirates.
Apart from that, I am thanking God for everything.
I am glad that anytime I
walk on the streets, people would wave at me. I thank God that I am still seen
as a superstar.”
Credit: Punch
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