Rukky Sanda

Rukky Sanda

Rukky Sanda was a student of the Lagos State University in 2005 when the institution was hit by a workers’ strike that kept the students at home for about one year. To fill the vacuum created by the strike, she heeded an older cousin’s advice to try her hands at acting.

Barely five years after that move, the actress has definitely carved a niche for herself in the movie world of make-belief. Pretty and young, Lagos State-born Rukky believes her best is yet to come.

The pretty graduate of Lagos State University cuts the image of a gentle millipede that would recoil when touched or provoked. While this may seem true in several areas of her life, you’ll have another thing coming if you try to take her man away from her.

Rukky confessed that behind the gentle and harmless mien is a tough and dangerous woman when another woman tries to snatch her man. “Sure, I can fight a lady over a guy. Though, it depends on the situation that warranted it. If I have a steady relationship and the guy is double dating, it is possible that I can fight the lady over the guy”.

Rukky, who rose to stardom in the English genre of the movie industry, insists that the much-talked about tribalism within the industry is not as bad people are painting it. While maintaining that she has never experienced it, Rukky explained that hard-working artistes don’t suffer from such things. “Someone asked me this same question this morning, but the truth is that I don’t see where the tribalism is. If you want something, you have to be patient and work for it. Omotola is Yoruba, Yemi Blaq is also Yoruba, so are many others and they are doing well. So it has never happen to me”.

Rukky sure has a high sense of dress. She disclosed that her favourite designer is Gucci. “The most expensive item in my wardrobe is my bag.” Though single, Rukky maintained that she is not searching. Not many would however believe her when she disclosed that there is no man in her life since she ended her last relationship almost one year ago. She however dropped a nice hint about what her dream man should look like. Tall and light-complexioned with stately legs, Rukky confessed that any man who hopes to date her should have the features of American actor and model, Shemar Moore.

For her, the talk of sexual abuse in the industry is simply balderdash. Though, while not totally dismissing it, Rukky believes only desperate and hungry actresses fall victim of abuse by randy producers and directors. “I don’t believe in all these talks about being sexually abused. The truth is that it is those girls who are desperate to appear in any movie that make themselves open to such abuse. For me, I didn’t start acting because I was hungry”.

Tribalism and discrimination in Nollywood

Someone asked me this same question this morning but I don’t see where the tribalism is. If you want something, you have to be patient and work for it. Omotola is Yoruba, Yemi Blaq is also Yoruba, so many people and they are doing well. So, it has never happened to me. I do a job I want to do. I get called up for jobs. But because someone has made a statement, you can’t let that bother you. If you want to get something, you have to work hard for it, be patient, pray and make sure you fight to get what you want. You can’t let people tell you this where you belong, you don’t belong there and you listen to them. If it is really what you want, you stay there and fight for it.

I am very hard working. People that don’t know me might think I am boring, but those that know me well know I work hard. It wasn’t that I came into the industry hungry and you know people talk a lot.

I was very okay; it is just something I have a passion for. The only thing you can do for yourself is to follow your dreams and do what you can do what you want to do. It has paid off. I do everything. I do business too, anything that is good investment.

Acting now pays big

Acting now gives money unlike when I started and they were paying ridiculous money. The first job I did was in 2004, I was given N50, 000. It was a big money that time. The movie was ‘Angel and the Priest’. I acted a sub-lead though they actually gave me the lead but I couldn’t do it.  When I read the script and some parts they wanted me to act, I said my mother was going to kill me if I did it.

Breakthrough

When I did that one in 2004, I said I would never act again because of the stress. I didn’t do anything for a while until 2006.  I was in school and because we were on strike for a long time. I graduated in 2005. Ever since I was in school, I was always doing business. I am not the kind of person that likes to stay idle from the scratch. Basically, what prompted me to start business was not to asking for money.

Going to school

I went to school because education is the most important thing you can give your child. My dad said whatever you want to do you have to get education first.

Parents’ reaction to becoming an actress

It was like a joke. I was just lucky. I saw a girl in a friend’s house and she asked why I was at home and told her school was on strike and I told her I would like to act. So we just went into a production company. I went there and they kept given me different scripts to read. It was like a joke. I told my mum and she said at least you are working; you are not just sitting at home. I was always saying God forbid.

Everybody actually took it as a joke. It was a big joke because I have known people in the industry for a very long time in the days of Ernest Assuzu and  Saint Obi and whenever they asked me if I would like to act, I would tell them no.

Rumours about Nollywood

From my experiences, they are not true. For the fact that you are acting does not define who you are in person. You cannot categorize everybody as being the same. It is just like saying bankers are this and that. People are different and we have our own views about things. We all know how we want to live our lives. So it is very wrong.

Talking about ladies who desperate to act and thereby sleeping with directors and producers, I have not experienced it. The way you present yourself is the way they will see you. It is everywhere. If you present yourself as desperate, they will take advantage of you. It is normal. It is just that focus on artistes.

The thing is that I didn’t have that situation because it wasn’t that I was keen on doing it from the scratch. It wasn’t something I have been pursuing, so I didn’t have that kind of situation with people. To me, it was just to get a job. It was not a do or die affair for me.

What I heard was that all these girls that act, they are like this and that. When I told my cousins, they said I was a joker. I just knew I just wanted to do something. My cousins were asking why I wanted to act, that I was a joker. They said I was not serious. Even when I didn’t know I wanted to act, I just knew I couldn’t do a job that I would be jumping around.

Unpleasant experience

I have not had any. The most unpleasant experience I have had was maybe when they promise you a job but at the end of the day, they give it to someone else. When such happens, I don’t take it to heart.

Stardom

I don’t look at myself as a star because I still have my old friends and hang out with them. It has not really affected my way of life.

Rumors about a fight

I am not fighting anybody. There are people out there who have problem seeing others progress. They are everywhere. They are just envious. I don’t know if it is the journalists or those that are given them stories.

Marriage

I am a young though I am not too young to marry. I was in a relationship for a long time but broke up recently. It is not because of stardom. I am a strict person. I am not into any relationship now. I don’t carry stardom on my head. If you want to build a relationship, it is hard work. You have to be careful because you don’t know who likes you for who you are or because they saw you in movies and just want to hang out with you. I am single but I am not hunting.

Dream man

It is simple. The picture of my dream man is actor Shemar Moore

Quarreling over a man

I can fight a lady over a guy. Though, it depends on the situation that warranted it. If I have a steady relationship and the guy is double dating, it is possible that I can fight the lady over the guy. It depends on how long the relationship has been going on and the level it has got to. If it something that just started, I would conclude that the guy is not reliable. I would ignore both the guy and if the lady begs me later, I would forgive her. If she is my friend, then there would be war. We would fight serious fight.

Passion

My passion is to be successful and to achieve my goal and make something out of my life. I am not there yet but I would get there. That comes back to the issue of discrimination. If you really want something, just work for it. You can’t just come one day except you do a movie that turns out a hit. Mostly, it does not work out. Look at Genevieve, she has been in the industry for over 12years. You would grow, learn, and face so many obstacles and work hard. If you want to be the best in your profession, you would have to work hard for it.

Embarrassing moments

One that has stuck to me ever since was when we got to a location and they didn’t allow us entry because the owner of the house changed his mind. Most times, we would start begging. I hate embarrassment, so I try to avoid it. You will never catch me fighting. I would probably just take a walk.

Memorable experience

I have had so many. When I decided to start producing, people were saying I should not do it, that others would stop giving me jobs. But I decided it is what I wanted to do. It is an investment. They thought I wasn’t going to do it but I actually did it. I have produced three movies now..