Nollywood actor, Rotimi Salami, has opened up about the struggles he faced in the Nigerian movie industry, revealing how he was sidelined by movie producers who refused to cast him in roles because of his face and body structure.
In a heartfelt revelation, Salami disclosed that the rejection and discrimination he experienced pushed him to make a life-changing decision—to go back to school. According to him, his early days in Nollywood were filled with challenges, as he consistently traveled long distances to attend movie auditions, only to be turned down time and time again.
Speaking during an interview on Feelrightnews TV’s official YouTube channel, the actor shared how he struggled to break into the industry despite his passion and dedication. He recalled how difficult it was for him to secure roles, even after putting in relentless effort to prove his talent.
“It was not easy at all during the time of our movie auditions because it was quite far from where I was living,” he recalled. Despite his commitment, he often faced disappointment, as filmmakers repeatedly overlooked him for major roles.
Salami revealed that for three years, he was only able to secure a single movie role, despite auditioning multiple times. He shared that the most painful rejection came when producers outrightly told him that his physical appearance was not suitable for the roles they were casting at the time.
According to him, many producers preferred actors with a more muscular build and dismissed him because of his small face and body. The constant rejection took an emotional toll on him, leaving him devastated and questioning his future in the industry.
“I cried when some producers said they couldn’t give me movie roles because of my face and body,” Salami admitted, emphasizing how difficult it was to deal with such harsh criticism.
Despite the setbacks, Salami’s perseverance eventually paid off, and he has since carved out a successful career in Nollywood. His story serves as an inspiration to aspiring actors facing similar struggles in the entertainment industry.
Rotimi Salami, Nollywood actor