Failed marriages more publicised than successful ones – Eso Dike

An actor, Eso Dike, tells Blessing Enenaite about his career and other issues

How would you describe your journey so far in the industry?

The journey so far has been one of patience and perseverance. I started professionally in 2015 in Lagos, but I had done some works unofficially before then.

Who were the people that paved the way for you in the industry?

Everyone who came to the industry before me paved the way for me. There are so many of them, and they are still relevant in the industry. The veterans and even my peers are people I look up to in the industry. They include Richard Mofe-Damijo, Chidi Mokeme, Daniel Etim-Effiong, and Efa Iwara.

You are also a lawyer. Do you still practise?

I am not practising at the moment, but I used to. Right now, my wig is dormant but my law degree does not expire. Whenever I want, I can still use it.

What are the things you do to get yourself into character?

To get myself into character entails a lot of things. I go through the script, and connect with the character. I also try to add certain twists to the character. I also study similar characters.

 Do you belong to any clique in Nollywood?

No, I don’t. I don’t know why no clique has taken me yet but I don’t belong to any. In the words of former President Muhammadu Buhari, I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody. However, I understand that there will be certain people I will work with more than others.

 Some weeks ago, you pulled a stunt with your colleague, Wumi Toriola, saying that you both were engaged. How did your friends perceive the stunt?

It was crazy. When I went to my barber, he congratulated me, and was showing me the picture of my purported ‘engagement’ to Wumi. My family members and close friends obviously did not believe it. However, my phone rang endlessly on that day due to calls from some close friends and colleagues. Some called to inquire if it was true or false. It was an interesting day. I did not know the prank would go as far as it did.

Apparently, many people believed the gist, as it went viral. Even when I tried letting people know it was not true, they did not believe me.

 Have you ever thought about getting married to a fellow entertainer?

I have not thought of it, and I don’t think I have ever gone far with any entertainer to think of such. However, I don’t mind getting married to an entertainer. I don’t think getting married to someone who does the same job with me will be a problem. I actually think it will be a plus, because of understanding. We will understand ourselves, since we do the same job.

 Do you ever get worried about the controversies that surround some celebrity marriages?

It is very worrying. It seems some celebrities cannot stay together to save their lives. I am sure there are several celebrities enjoying fruitful relationships and marriages. But, blogs will publicise the failed ones, because bad news spreads faster than good news.

Listening to such news will make one question if marrying a fellow entertainer is worth it. Celebrities co-habiting does not seem to be the best working formula. To each his own, I guess.

 Would you prefer to flaunt your relationship online or keep it off the public glare?

I prefer it totally offline. I like people who are involved in the relationship to be the only ones involved, as opposed to everybody else.

 How do you handle female fans?

I have home training, so I handle them (laughs). Regardless of fame, I have always been into entertainment in a certain capacity. This means that I have always had some sort of fan base. The number came as a bit of a shock when I started acting, but having fans wasn’t new to me.

Since when I was in primary school, I knew I could rap and I had been doing it for a while. I am still a rapper when I get in the mood.

 What are your other areas of interest?

Aside from acting, I am in the process of trying producing my own movies. I have had a production company since 2016 but not much has been done, because I have been trying to do a solid piece in Nollywood. I think I am getting there. By the grace of God and with everything going well, I should start the production of my first movie as an executive producer.

Some people don’t know that I did a cinematography course some years ago when I first came to Lagos. Being behind the camera may not be in a big capacity as a director but it is something I will look towards in the nearest future. I am also involved in other businesses.

 How do you unwind?

I unwind by spending time with members of my family, especially my brothers. I love to play video games at home. Also, I play football three times a week when I have time, and I also play tennis and basketball. In addition, I go to the gym and I love to watch movies. Being in the movie industry means one has to watch movies. I watch movies a lot.

 You said you spend time with your brothers. Don’t you have a sister?

I have a sister but she is not close-by. I spend time with her over the phone (laughs).