Take it or leave it, star actor, Dimeji Lateef is one of the most talented and creative actors in the movie industry, featuring in both English and Yoruba movies back to back. Many were not surprised when he got the role to act Asiwaju Tinubu biopic (The Last Man Standing).
According to the producer of the movie and publisher of Best of Nollywood (BON). Seun Oloketuyi, it took a lot of hardwork to finally get Lateef to play that role. After considering lots of actors, he and his team finally settled on Lateef knowing full well he will be able to deliver perfectly. In his words “Getting Lateef to play that role was really difficult and remains the toughest part of it all because he didn’t want to have anything to do with politics, but when we had the meeting, his wife was also present and also being an actor herself, she was also able to convince him that it’s their profession and has nothing to do with politics. Despite all these, he still had to consult other few people before he finally made up his mind”.
This is not the first time Seun Oloketuyi is producing such an outstanding movie. Just a few months ago, he produced a movie on the Governor of Kogi State, Yahya Bello.
The movie which was titled “The White Lion”, had nothing to do with politics, but rather to entertain and in the entertainment, a lot of history is embedded.
Seun also added that “at this point, the audience is getting tired of love stories, and even the very big production outfits are beginning to do biopics, take for example Tunde Kelani Did “Ayinla” Bolanle Austen-Peters is doing Funmilayo Ransome- Kuti. Ebony Life is doing Hushpuppi and lots of others. We believe it is time to bring our stories to life, especially for our children who don’t know many of these legends”
“Also while working on this script, we had to change scriptwriters several times. Most of the scriptwriters did not even know what happened in 1999, so productions like these are essential so that people can look back to them and be able to make references. Getting books about Asiwaju Tinuubu’s time as governor was difficult and I had to call Uncle Tunji Bello who came to our rescue and sent us books, so if it is so difficult to get books on a man like Tinubu that is alive, how can we hope to get for those who are no longer with us but remain a key part of Nigeria’s history and story, and that is exactly the gap we are trying to fill with the film and besides this, we are still going to do one for the late Adedibu, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Professor Peller and it will be done within the next 12 months. So this movie is not propaganda material for anybody”.
Star actor, Dimeji Lateef also revealed that “At first when I was told about the project, my first response was that I was not interested in playing the role, it is scary, politics can be scary and what came to my head was this is politics.
Also acting like a real person that is still living is always scary. It is a different ball game if the person is no longer around, but this is somebody that is alive.
He would most likely watch one act like him and if one does not get it right, he would say so eventually, it is a lot of work, I had to find everything about him and replicate that”.
“People will always have diverse opinions but I feel it is important for people to know those terrible things can be said about a person but they should take time to find out the truth about that individual.
There will be a lot of misconceptions, especially with everything that is happening now. However, I am prepared for whatever may happen because I am only doing my job.
I know that it is going to be another stretch for me as an actor. I am taking this on because I want to rechallenge myself and this will be one of the defining points because this is a tough one”.
Dimeji who revealed that he has never met with Asiwaju Tinubu said he had to read about him and watch him closely to deliver his role perfectly. According to him “since I was told about the role, I have been watching him closely. I have even read about him. What is most important is seeing the person a few times, then closing your eyes and bringing all you have read and heard about the person to you and letting it flow naturally, somehow you will key into it unknowingly and that has been my pattern. From the way Asiwaju talks slowly, picking his words one after the other and the way he drops his jokes. A lot of people won’t notice that he can be a comedian because he seems straight to the point, I hope for the best with this production”.
And after having done a lot of research and acting Asiwaju Tinubu, Dimeji Lateef had this to say about him.
“There is a lot to say about him, people would always have a different opinion. For me, he is a philanthropist, a man that goes after whatever he wants, I see a man that sees what he wants and goes for it. There are a whole lot of things that are notable about him, but I just need to pick one and hammer on, and that is the aspect of him as a go-getter”.
Dimeji Lateef is a very skilful actor whose role interpretations in movies is close to perfection and this is his fourth biopic. He has done the legendary Ayinla produced by Tunde Kelani, he did Ige, Strangers and now Tinubu.
He is versatile and known for his unique ability to get really emotional in movies. He started acting professionally in 2007 and has since remained at the very top of his career in the industry, killing every role he interprets.
He remains one of the very best in the industry with lots of awards to show for his success in the entertainment industry.
The movie “Jagaban, Last Man Standing” is produced by Seun Oluketuyin and parades stars like Lateef Adedimeji, Shushu Abubakar, Prince Jide Kosoko, Segun Arinze, Saheed Balogun, Foluke Daramola, Madam Kofo, Yemi Blaq, Bolanle Showunmi, Ayo Badmus, amongst others. It is directed by Tunde Olaoye and is to be premiered on May 27.
– Biodun Alao
READ ALSO: HOW I HAVE SUSTAINED MY MOVIE CAREER ABROAD – OYIZA RACHEAL UGORJI
