Why I Get Scared Whenever Funke Akindele Calls Me For A Job — Jide Kosoko

Veteran Nollywood actor Prince Jide Kosoko has revealed that he experiences anxiety whenever renowned filmmaker Funke Akindele reaches out to offer him a movie role, citing her rigorous directorial standards and perfectionist approach on set.

The 72-year-old actor made the disclosure during a recent appearance on the African A-List podcast, where he commended Akindele’s extraordinary work ethic, creative stamina, and unwavering attention to detail.

Funke is very hardworking; even if you are a man, you can’t match her energy. Whenever Funke calls me for a job, I am always scared. You can shoot a scene 15 times, Kosoko stated during the interview.

Elaborating on the production process under her direction, the veteran actor explained that Akindele frequently demands multiple retakes—even for scenes previously deemed complete—to fix subtle continuity or prop inconsistencies.

She may come the following day thinking of shooting another scene, but then she will say, ‘We have to shoot those scenes again because of the plates they brought’, he recounted.

Kosoko also addressed the industry-wide debate surrounding Akindele’s signature dance-driven promotional campaigns, which utilize choreographed social media skits to generate widespread public engagement ahead of theatrical releases.

While industry figures such as filmmaker Kunle Afolayan and actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde have expressed reservations regarding the sustainability and physical demands of social media dance promotion, Kosoko endorsed the strategy as a proven, highly successful marketing formula that other producers now emulate.

Reacting to the podcast clip on social media, the 49-year-old box-office record-breaker shared the video with playful emojis, acknowledging the veteran actor’s lighthearted remarks regarding her high-intensity filming style.

Akindele remains one of the most commercially successful figures in Nigerian cinema, behind major box-office hits including Omo Ghetto: The Saga (2020), Battle on Buka Street (2022), A Tribe Called Judah (2023), and Everybody Loves Jenifa (2024).