Highly talented actor cum producer, Babaseun Fasheru is one of the Nollywood actors currently making waves in the entertainment industry. He started his career with stage performance, today he has featured in lots of award-winning series and movies.
In this exclusive interview with City People’s Senior Showbiz Reporter, BIODUN ALAO, he spoke on how award-winning filmmaker, Tunder Laoye and superstar actress, Funke Akindele helped his acting career.
For many who don’t know, he is the younger brother of KICC Pastor, Pastor Femi Fasheru and they both share a striking resemblance. He talked about how his brother has encouraged and helped him achieve his dreams and how Pastor Femi would introduce him to his celebrity friends and his immense contribution to her career.
He recently produced 2 indigenous movies “Dieko” and “Ebiti” with A-list stars on the set. He also shares his challenges and fears in the movie industry. Below are the excerpts.
How did acting start for you?
Well, let me say I started acting when I was 15 years. I have a cousin who studied Theatre Arts at the University of Ilorin. At the final year, he had to do a project based on a movie in my home town Ijebu Ijesha, so he came home and gathered some of us. I auditioned and I got a role and that was my first appearance ever in 1995. After then around 1999, I was in the University of Ado-Ekiti.
This same cousin of mine wanted to do another movie at that time. He called me to come around. We had the movie at OAU. We were there for about 6 to 7 days and it was there I met with the lead actors of Papa Ajasco.
Then after my service year after graduation, I started doing stage plays from church and concerts. Later I was invited to feature in the movie titled “Married But Living Single” a cinema movie that parades A’list stars such as Joke Silva, Funke Akindele and lots of others. And that was my first opportunity of meeting these great stars one-on-one. The movie was directed by Tunde Olaoye. I played a minor role, from there Tunde Olaoye invited me for another television series “Shadows”, where I played the role of a boyfriend to Kehinde Bankole. Afterwards he invited me for yet another series “Crack In The Wall”. Then we did another series titled “Number One”.
After a while, he called me up for an audition at Tade Ogidan’s office. There I met veteran actress, Sola Sobowale. It was her production; a television series where I played a Personal Assistance to the great actor, Keppy Ekpenyong.
I was later invited to the set of Tinsel, a Mnet series. That was in 2014 and I was really excited. I enjoyed every bit of it.
After Tinsel, I moved on. Then Tunde Laoye called me again for an audition and lo and behold, it was “Jenifer Diary”. I saw Funke Akindele and I was picked and I played Toyo baby’s boyfriend. It was a huge role and I was surprised such a role could be given to someone like me who is not yet very known in the industry. I put in my best so I won’t disappoint their trust in me.
So I did feature in lots of television series, after Jenifa’s Diary, I did Industreet.
In 2017, I got a call from Funke Akindele’s P.A. to come for a movie project they are working on. I got there and met lots of big names in the industry. I was surprised when I was told I would be playing the lead role in “My Siblings & I”. It’s a Mnet project and that was how I started my journey in “My Siblings & I”. I also went for an audition for Super story and I played the lead role of Donaldo in Super story. So as I was doing my siblings and I, I was equally doing Super story “Donaldo”.
In 2018, I decided to produce my own movie titled “PWD”, which featured stars like Kunle Coker, Afeez Oyetoro, Jide Kosoko amongst others. Directed by Tunde Olaoye it was all about drug abuse. After then I have done lots of movies. I was also called to feature in the award-winning movie “Battle Within”.
I also featured in “Royal Outlaw”. I did “Tomorrow Is Now”.
Though I would say I have featured more on series than feature movies.
I also featured in the record-breaking award cinema movie which is still showing in all the cinemas at the moment, like Omoghetto the Saga, where I played the character of Pluto. A movie which was produced by Funke Akindele and directed by JJC Skillz. Also I just produced 2 movies this year which were indigenous movies. Dieko, is another one I played Dieko the serial rapist and Ebiti, which I played Idowu, the unsuspected murderer.
Do you have any regret so far about being in the industry?
So far, no regret. I think the only regret I have so far, is not joining the industry early enough. Apart from that, it has been amazing year. Within these 9 years, I have done lots of big movies such as “Shadows” Jenifa’s Diary, even though I pulled out in Season 9. The series has done well overall Africa and other countries as well.
Even Tinsel, though it didn’t give me the fame I envisaged but starting with Tinsel gave me good morals. Super story, anywhere I go to, people always talk about my character, so I am super grateful to Almighty God. So no regret at all.
Has your famous brother in any way helped or influenced your career?
Yes, he has helped my career. I have other brothers who are equally famous but because Pastor Femi Fasheru is always on the screen this has made him more famous. I have another brother who is a commodity exporter. He is the President of Cashew Association of Nigeria. My brothers have been so supportive, I have another one who is in America now. He is a professor at the University.
Yes Pastor Femi has been very supportive; most of the clothes I wear, even on set are given to me by him. The fact that he knows I am into showbiz, he always flood me with clothes. He knows that it is what I need. Several times, he has introduced me to celebrities who visit him. He enjoys seeing me on the stage. He has contributed immensely to my career. His fame too has helped me, because once I mention my surname “Fasheru” it is a golden name. With that name favours come, so it’s been awesome being his brother.
Who do you look up to in the industry?
The truth of the matter is that I don’t really have anyone I am looking up to in the industry but I have people I admire a lot. They inspire me. I enjoy watching their jobs. So, I have several people that inspire me and I watch their work a lot.
Right from when I was in Ijebu Ijesha and that was when I got the inspiration to become an actor. Someone like RMD. How would you watch RMD and not fall in love with his works? I have always watched his movies. Even a few days ago. I went back to movies like Isakaba, Desperado and I was like if these people could do these movies at that time the resources were very scarce, then they are the real filmmakers.
Another person I admire as a producer is Tunde Olaoye. I admire his creativity how and he works. I love Funke Akindele’s energy, creativity, and skills. I love the fact that she is so close to domestic things; you can always relate well with her movies.
What about Tade Ogidan, an exceptionally good and highly talented filmmaker. I said it earlier that if you are looking for the best of producers, then they are here in Nigeria. Fantastic actors are all here in Nigeria. All these people inspire me a lot. RMD’s progression is amazing. No scandal, just doing his thing peacefully. Even after the break to join politics, he still came back ruling his world peacefully. I love Ramsey Noah. He has been consistent over the years.
Desmond Elliot too is another fantastic filmmaker I admire a lot. Just the way these people have inspired me, I want to inspire people too.
If you talk about a female who is hardworking, determined, rugged, creative who doesn’t take less and doesn’t go below standard, that is Funke Akindele. She pictures something and brings it to reality. I hold her in high esteem and she inspires me a lot. I have worked with her and I know how she works so I am not just saying this.
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