Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has revealed the enormous personal sacrifices she made while producing her record-breaking film, *Behind The Scenes*, which grossed ₦2.7 billion at the Nigerian box office.
Speaking about the demands of filmmaking, Akindele said she put virtually every aspect of her personal life on hold to ensure the success of the project.
“I abandoned myself for work. I didn’t even make my hair, except when I was 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.”
The award-winning filmmaker disclosed that the intense work schedule meant enduring sleepless nights, skipping meals and postponing self care until after the project was completed.
“It’s now that I am relaxed, feeling fresh, doing the skincare. It was a lot of sacrifice, sleepless nights, forgetting to eat and giving my all.”
Akindele also addressed the perception that she only dances on social media to promote her movies, explaining that many people fail to appreciate the enormous effort that goes into creating a successful film long before promotional campaigns begin.
Her latest remarks echo comments she made during Wema Bank’s International Women’s Day programme, where she revealed that she deliberately withdrew from social events for nearly two years to focus on building her career and brand.
Over the years, Akindele has consistently attributed her success to discipline, strategic planning, continuous learning, prayer and an unwavering work ethic.