“I abandoned myself for work; I didn’t even make my hair” — Funke Akindele reveals sacrifices behind ₦2.7bn movie success

Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has opened up about the intense personal sacrifices she made while producing her blockbuster film, Behind The Scenes, which grossed ₦2.7 billion at the Nigerian box office.

The award-winning actress made the revelation during an interview with BellaNaija, where she explained that achieving such success required her to put work ahead of every other aspect of her life.

According to Akindele, she gave up social activities, neglected her appearance and devoted nearly all her time to ensuring the movie’s success.

Funke Akindele speaks on sacrifices behind blockbuster success

Speaking about the demands of filmmaking, Akindele said, “I abandoned myself for work; I didn’t even make my hair, except when I am going on the red carpet or somewhere important. I don’t attend parties, I don’t go to greet people at home, I quit everything. I’m neck-deep in work; I sacrifice my time for it.”

She added, “It’s now that I am relaxed, feeling fresh, doing the skincare. It was a lot of sacrifice, sleepless nights, forgetting to eat, giving my all.”

The filmmaker also addressed the perception that she only dances online to promote her films, saying people often overlook the amount of work she puts into her productions beyond social media campaigns.

Actress reflects on years of discipline and dedication

Her latest comments echo similar remarks she made during Wema Bank’s International Women’s Day programme, where she disclosed that she withdrew from social events for almost two years to focus on building her brand.

Akindele has repeatedly credited discipline, consistency and strategic planning for her continued success in Nollywood, noting that her journey involved constant learning, prayer and hard work.

The actress continues to receive widespread praise for her record-breaking achievements, with many fans describing her story as proof that persistence and dedication can produce extraordinary results in Nigeria’s highly competitive film industry.

Watch the video below…

“I stopped greeting people at home, I stopped going to parties, and I also stopped making my hair.

These were the things I did for the last movie to be able to gross 2.7 billion naira.”

— Funke Akindele pic.twitter.com/kyAKHeRHZi

— Proper9ja Boy (@Proper9jaboy) July 13, 2026