• Uzor Arukwe stated that there was a time when social media following was one of the prerequisites for actors to get movie roles from some producers in the Nigerian movie industry.
• He admitted that it was a big challenge for him during his days as a struggling thespian.

Renowned Nollywood actor, Uzor Arukwe, has spoken out about Nollywood’s disturbing trend of prioritizing social media followers over talent when casting actors.

In a recent interview with Pulse, Uzor Arukwe revealed that filmmakers often favor actors with a large online presence, rather than those with genuine acting skills.

Uzor Arukwe acknowledged that a selected few actors have managed to excel in the industry, possessing both talent and a substantial online presence.

He emphasized that this trend has created an unfair advantage, where actors with more social media followers are given preference over those with genuine talent.

Uzor Arukwe, who has spent over two decades in the industry, reflected on his early days as a struggling actor, saying:

“I remember all so clearly when I started. It was a big problem for me,” the 40-year-old actor told Pulse in a recent interview.

“There was a time in this industry when it was mostly about Instagram and Twitter followers, and stuff like that. I didn’t understand it but knew it was something I had to be at peace with, because a production house wants to hire you and they’re looking at your numbers. ‘But can he act?’ That is the question I always ask. But there are some people who are blessed who are fantastic actors who have numbers and they’ve been doing well.

In another story, Uzor Arukwe revealed that he worked for 10 years in the corporate world before Nollywood .

In a recent interview, Uzor Arukwe talked about his early days in Nollywood and how he rose to fame.

The Kambili actor also disclosed how he left a corporate job after ten years to pursue a career in Nollywood, as well as the hurdles he faced in his early years.