Nollywood actor Uzor Arukwe has complained about being repeatedly offered roles portraying wealthy, assertive Igbo men, popularly referred to as “Odogwu” characters.
The actor made the complaint during an interview on The Creativitea Podcast, saying he did not want to be limited to a particular type of character.
“All the producers in Nollywood now want to kill me with Odogwu character. You can’t put me in a box,” he said.
Arukwe urged filmmakers to explore other characters for him, arguing that they could create different roles rather than repeatedly casting him in the same type of character.
“The same way someone took a chance on that character, you can also create another character and give to me,” he added.
The actor gained wider recognition for his portrayal of Obiora, popularly known as Odogwu, in the romantic film Love in Every Word and its sequel, both produced by Omoni Oboli.
His performance in the films attracted attention from viewers, particularly on social media, where his character and mannerisms became widely discussed.
Arukwe’s comments come days after his manager, Mautin Tairu, popularly known as Mr M, acknowledged sharing some fans’ frustration with the actor’s frequent portrayal of similar characters.
Tairu made the remarks while responding to an X user who called for Arukwe to take a break from such roles, citing his frequent shouting in the films.
The manager, however, explained that business considerations and audience preferences influenced the roles the actor accepted, particularly in YouTube productions.
He added that Arukwe’s cinema projects offered a different range of characters.
