Actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has reflected on the sacrifices made by some of the pioneers of Nollywood.
In a post shared on Instagram on Monday, the 62-year-old compared his workload to that of Hollywood star Denzel Washington.
“If Denzel Washington puts in the number of hours I put in the production here, his colour will change to charcoal the next day. Because we built this industry with tears, sweat, and blood,” he wrote.
He continued: “Some of us are lucky to still have our health in good place.”
Looking back at the early days of Nollywood, Kanayo said: “We started this industry at a time when there was a light called 2K. If they bring one 2K on you, they will remove from your name.”
Kanayo began acting in 1982 and became a household name after starring in the 1992 film Living in Bondage. He has since featured in movies like Across the Niger, Up North, Lionheart and Living in Bondage: Breaking Free.
Aside from films, the actor headlined the television series Professor Johnbull which ran for six seasons from 2016.
Kanayo was in 2014 praised for his role in the biographical drama Apaye.
In 2013, former President Goodluck Jonathan appointed him into the board of the national institute for hospitality and tourism studies.
