Veteran Nollywood actor Chinedu Okeke has responded to recent claims that he exited the film industry due to being repeatedly cast in criminal roles, particularly as an armed robber.
The actor has firmly denied the rumour, describing it as entirely false and misleading.
The allegation surfaced in a trending blog post which claimed that Okeke walked away from acting after becoming uncomfortable with the way his on-screen characters—mostly villains—affected how fans perceived him in real life.
But in a recent video interview shared on YouTube, Okeke dismissed the report, stating categorically that he never made such a statement nor granted any interview suggesting he had issues with the roles he played.
“When I heard it, I was confused. Most of these bloggers think they can make money by tainting someone’s reputation. I never said such a thing. Why would I say that?” he questioned.
He expressed disappointment over the fabricated story, accusing the unnamed blog of exploiting his name for attention.
The actor, best known for his rugged roles in action-packed films, credited those very roles for launching and sustaining his career.
“What do you think made me who I am today? It’s action movies, so why would I complain? I never granted that interview,” he emphasized.
“I have never, and will never feel bad for playing an armed robber in films because it’s action movies that made me Chinedu Okeke.”
Okeke further stated that while he is proud of his legacy in action cinema, he’s eager to showcase his range as a performer and is open to a wider variety of roles.
“Please, producers, call me now. I want to work. I’m redundant and looking for work, any role,” he appealed.
“Be it the role of an armed robber or assassin. If you have a romantic role too, bring it, I want it and make people understand that I can do anything.”
Chinedu Okeke rose to prominence in the early 2000s, earning a reputation for his intense portrayals of villains in blockbuster titles like Issakaba, Shina Rambo, V-Boot, and Peace Maker. His commitment to these roles cemented his status as a household name in Nollywood’s action genre.
