BY DAVID AJIBOYE

Jim Iyke has been variously described as Nollywood’s playboy -a serial heart breaker, one whose motto vis-a-vis relationships with women, appears to be “use them and leave them.” Tabloid stories about his sexual escapades are in volumes, leaving many to wonder what he is looking for in a woman or if he will ever find that unique woman who will melt his heart and make him entertain the thoughts of walking down the aisle.

During a recent encounter with Jim, the issue of his playboy image and stories of his sexual liaisons were exhaustively probed. As reported before, he vehemently denied being a playboy, however, admitting that “a million women may pass through your life, but only one will stick and strike that chord in you.” It appears that that one woman may have finally materialized, and struck a strong chord in Jim Iyke’s life.

Jim Iyke

There have been some rumors and published speculations that the handsome actor may have finally found a woman of his dreams – a fact that he has neither denied nor confirmed, until now. Jim Iyke was asked explicitly if he had finally found the elusive dream woman, and if so, what qualities stood her out of the numerous others that competed for his heart, love and affection?

Smiling infectiously, Jim volunteered, “I am going to tell you everything you need to know. As a matter of fact, I am going to use this opportunity to finally break my silence over this issue. As you rightly pointed out, a lot has been written about my new found love, most of them largely speculative in nature.

“Yes, it is true. I have found the woman of my dreams, and we are in love in totality. She is the embodiment of all that I have been looking for: tall, pretty, exotic and supremely intelligent. I was looking for a woman who would complement and reinforce my intellectually curious mind -someone who would add and not subtract, and I’m happy to admit that I have finally found her. Her name is Phil, and I would leave it at that.”

How They Met, “I met Phil sometime last year in the United States. She’s of Caribbean ancestry – more specifically Jamaican. We had a movie shot in Baltimore and Phil was invited by her then friend, Ruth Okoro, to the set, and we had an instant connection. Initially, I thought I was just going to have a good time with her, and keep it moving.

But her beauty, intellect, deeply ingrained values and an abiding capacity to understand and deconstruct me struck me. No other woman I had met ever took time to learn who I was, and what elements and values define my entire being.

Phil’s love for me was not based on my fame, rather she cared much about Jim Iyke, as an individual and not Jim Iyke as a star-actor and Nollywood superstar.

Jim Iyke

I have always believed in the partnership of body, soul and the mind. Oftentimes, the women that crossed my path in the past were more interested in the partnership of the body. But Phil possesses both the intellectual ability and the traditional values that were in short supply with my recent past relationships.” In the past few months, the tabloid
newspapers had regaled their readers with the case of betrayal on the part of Jim’s new found love.

According to reports, “Phil, supplanted and betrayed her close friend, Ruth Okoro, who was said to be seeing Jim Iyke at the time she introduced her then best friend, Phil to the Nollywood Sexiest Actor.” As a result of this betrayal, the two erstwhile friends are mortal enemies today. Asked if he ever had an affair with Ruth, Jim replied in the negative.

“No. Ruth is not my kind of woman, and the notion that I was seeing her is totally preposterous. How could I be seeing Ruth, when she was even married to my boy, Philips Ehigiwina? She was sleeping around with Emeka Ike. I have values and moral ethos, and those values were in conflict with what I was seeing.

That was the reason I called Ruth’s husband in Texas, and asked him to come to Maryland and see what his wife was doing with Emeka Ike.

Ruth was caught red handed in bed with Emeka Ike, and she knows this to be the truth. All the nonsense that was written about my alleged jealousy because Ruth was seeing both Emeka and me, were pieces of junk journalism. It is true that Ruth introduced me to Phil. I didn’t need to deny that.

I saw a winner in Phil and I went for her. I have no regrets. What Ruth wanted from me, unfortunately, I couldn’t give it to her because of the fact that I have some morals in me. All the negative things she has said about Phil never bothered me because I know who she is, and I am comfortable with who she is.”

I GOT LESS THAN $5 FROM MY FIRST MOVIE -NKIRU SYLVANUS

By David Ajiboye

Nkiru Sylvanus could be said to be one of the very few actresses who have climbed the ladder of success through dint of hard work. She emerged on the scene in 2000, in the movie, Cry For Help.  Her above interpretation of her role in that movie has not only left a lasting impression in the heart of producers, it has left her permanently in the consciousness of Nollywood fans. In a recent exclusive interview with African Movie Star, Nkiru opened up on how it all started.

According to the fair-skinned actress, growing up in Aba, Abia State and having to watch actors and actresses on television opened up a new vista to what lays ahead for her in life. And that when it came to choosing a career, acting became the first choice on her mind. This, she said, was because she found out that she stands to make a name for herself quickly through acting than any other profession, and the money involved was also another incentive that made her take to acting.

Hear her: “I need to make a name for myself through acting, and the money I stood to make so I can take care of myself  were all I considered while making up my mind on the career to pursue. And when I did, I found myself picking up movie roles quicker than I expected.”

Nkiru went down memory lane and told us how her strict family background has kept her focused since she emerged on the movie scene with the hit movie. According to her she grew up in a family of seven with a policeman father who installed discipline and brought them up with very strict and proper manners in her and her siblings, which has always kept her on her toes.

“My father was a disciplinarian and the discipline he gave us is what has kept me away from silly controversies that surround most of my colleagues in the industry.”

According to her it was a herculean task convincing her father that she wanted to become an actress. “It was not an easy task but in the end, I had my way. He gave me his blessing but not without the strong warning that I should not forget where I’m coming from.”

Known for her roles as a crying actress in most movies she has featured in, we took her up on why she takes up the roles of one who is too emotional, and she revealed that she does that because film producers and directors have always casted her for such roles because, according to her she does it well.

“Producers like to cast me in roles where I cry a lot; they give me emotional or romantic roles to interprete and since I’m earning my money, I just have to do what they instruct me to do.”

For an actress of her caliber who ranks as one of the prettiest faces needed in most love movies, you wonder what could have been her opening fee in the industry in 2000. Beaming, she said it wasn’t much and that at the same time, it couldn’t have been anything more  than N5,000 but that what mattered was that, she was ans is still happy doing what she has always wanted to do in her life.

“It is a long time now, but I want to believe that it was about N5,000, but I wasn’t doing it for the money then, but for what I believed I wanted to achieve and looking back today, I think I’m happy that things have gone on well for me in Nollywood,” she admitted.

To some artists, taking part in a movie depend on the script and Nkiru is no exception to this rule as she said that as she said that she accepts any good script that has a story to tell and lesson for the public from the movie, when it goes into the market.

To her, ” I will take movie scripts that will impart positive lessons on the society and make me a better actress; I will never accept scripts that do not meet such requirements. I refuse such without thinking twice .”

In one of the movies she has been in titled, New Jerusalem, Nkiru played a rather queer role of a wayward  girl whose mother was a religious woman  in the day and, by night a criminal; a role many have not stopped asking why she took up.

” I had wanted to do something different from the crying girl stuff that a lot of people have associated me with, ut at the end of the day, I was surprised that many of my fans started judging me by that roles. I was disturbed that my fans thought that I am actually the girl I played in that movie, New Jerusalem but away from that, I’m just the girl next door who is down to earth and can do anything to please my friends.”

Nkiru also confessed that it has been only through hard work that she has been able to keep her head above board in the industry, as she is not one of those who cut corners to attain undue popularity in the industry.

According to her, ” I have been able to get where I am today because I believe in hard work and I am not like those who would want to cut corners to achieve success and I owe it all to God for guiding me to where I am today.”

With her beautiful look and fair skin, which usually attracts most men to her it is natural to want to know how she copes with the attention from the opposite sex. Nkiru said it is all about being diplomatic and that is what keeps the men close enough but far away.

” I deal with men in the proper manner without being rude but many would  still not understand why I would not date everyone who comes my way.” she said, while revealing that she is not ready for any serious relationship for now because she’s taking her time to find the right person and would know when the right man comes her way.

Asked if she would consider dating someone in Nollywood, Nkiru said her colleagues in the industry are humans, and if any one of them comes with genuine intention of settling down with her, she might consider the person.

On her most embarrassing moment, he said it was the day when someone came from behind while in a shopping mall in Enugu and lifted her up and spun her in the air to the surprise of onlookers.

The  actress, who grew up in Aba, said there are certain habits one overgrows in life and one of the such is the tendency to exhibit the character traits some people who live in Aba are known for.

“If it were about five years ago, I can answer you straight away that I would spoil for a fight with anyone who crosses my path, but not anymore now,” she said smiling.

As a romantic person that she is at least in movies, Nkiru said she’ll do everything for love except killing herself. Though a fashion freak, Nkiru revealed that she’s not choosy, and that she shops everywhere she goes be it Lagos, Enugu, Italy, London or Paris.

Recalling the first time she traveled abroad for holidays, Nkiru says she was surprised seeing so many of her fans who came out to have some nice time with her, an experience which gladdened her heart seeing people outside Nigeria appreciating her for what she is doing in Nollywood.

On the qualities her dream man must have, she said, “My man must be hard working, industrious and God-fearing and above all, romantic.” This she said, is because she believes in her man being the centre of her world and would want to remain hopeful that the right man would come her way.

By David Ajiboye

“I intend to be in Nollywood for a long time,” says actress Tonto Dike.

“I’m so sorry for the delay and recourse I have made you go through, sir,”  Tonto Dike, the fast rising Nigerian actress, who was one of the first housemates of the Next Movie Star, pleaded as she settled down in her Murano SUV and pleads with the director of the film on which location she was to have this chat with African Movie Star.

That the screen siren has done pretty well for herself in the movie industry is more like understatement as she has also been able to get some of the best of things in life for herself – a car and a good apartment.

Quite enthusiastic and passionate about what she does, Tonto seems ready to stay the course in Nollywood.

“My only reason for being in Nollywood is my increasing passion for acting that comes with every passing day. I wake up every morning yearning to do more in the industry. My interest developed many years back and it has been increasing daily.”

“To be serious with you, I intend to be in Nollywood for a long time,” she said.

The Port Harcourt-born vixen took the movie industry by storm just three years after her participation in a TV reality show, Next Movie Star. As a contestant in the reality show, she impressed quite a number of people with her skills and after emerging as the first runner-up, she took her chances in the industry and today she’s one of the most sought after.

” I think it was just God’s timing. God has everybody in mind and he has a particular time He wants you to hit it big. God and my talent have been responsible for the rise in my career within a short time. These things have been working for me like magic and it has been my strength. It has nothing to do with my beauty; in fact, beauty is the last thing that helped me in Nollywood because I believe if  I had no talent, after one or two movies, I would have been kicked out. The beauty is just a complement,”  Tonto said candidly.

The petrochemical engineering graduate of the River State University of Technology was quick to speak up when the issue of the opposite sex was brought up.

In her words: “I don’t think I’ve had any contact or brush with obsessed male fans or admirers, in fact,  all I know I have fans who love and appreciate me just the way I love and appreciate them.”

On marriage, she said:  “I won’t get married because I want to please anybody, I would only do it when I feel and know that the time is right. I would be waiting for God’s time to tie that knot when it comes but for now, I’m not rushing into anything that I might later regret. I only pray that my parents are alive to witness it all when it eventually comes.”

So, is she saying there isn’t any man in her life at the moment even with her wealth, fame and beauty?

“See, there are many boyfriend materials, but what about the husband materials? It’s just the same way with guys. I don’t want something I would do and in the next few months, it’s over or I’m out, so I want to be very careful before going into it, so that I can do it well.”

“At present, I’m not even thinking about any man because I don’t even have any! All I’m concerned about at the moment is my career and that for now is my priority!”

Why would she study petrochemical  engineering despite her love for the arts?

“I’ve always loved the oil sector and petrochemical engineering came as the only course I could read despite my love for acting. It remained with me all through my years in school because my father wanted a job that could pay my bills, something that is serious.”

“But I know that acting is far more serious than people take it to be and, in my third year I decided to start off the burning desire and here I am today.”

What would the light-skinned actress be doing when she eventually retires, pick up a white- collar job?

“There is no possibility of me working as a petrochemical engineer, but maybe doing contract or something. I doubt I want to leave Nollywood anytime soon.”

With the number of movies that she has taken part in since in 2006, Tonto must no doubt be smiling all the way to the bank.

“We thank God. I’m not doing bad and I give God the glory,”  was her tarse reply.