Veteran Nigerian actor, Femi Durojaiye, has recalled how he made a huge sacrifice in the interest of his children during the early days of his career.
He said he was once cast for a significant role because the director was impressed with him the moment he came for auditions, however an incident that occurred during the shoot made him lose the gig.
The Nollywood star said he was informed that his kids fell ill on the day of the shoot, so he had to leave set and till date the director refuses to work with him.
Durojaiye said; “In the early days of Nollywood, film posters were used for advertising before social media came along. My career was just beginning to take off. I landed a significant role that could have been a breakthrough.
“When I arrived at the audition, the director immediately saw me as the character he wanted. Before I even read a line from the script, he had already cast me, and I was thrilled. However, on the day of the shoot, one of my children fell ill, and I couldn’t attend.
“The director never worked with me again, and I understood why. I prioritised my children over my career. They always come first. If I were in America, I would drop everything and return to my village for them. They are my top priority and always will be. So, I missed out on that career opportunity due to my son’s illness.
“Additionally, I had to juggle taking the children to school, attending auditions, going for shoots, and returning home. I had to play both the roles of father and mother while they were growing up. That’s why I always tell young couples that there are no roles – no specific male or female roles – in building a family. Do whatever it takes to make your family work.”
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