It's Possible For Man And Woman To Have A Platonic Relationship
In a world where a close relationship between a man and a woman has always raised a red flag, where people find it difficult to accept that a man and a woman can have a platonic relationship without any romantic connections, Nollywood actor Bolanle Ninalowo has proven the world wrong with his strictly platonic relationship with co-actor Yvonne Jegede.
For a man like Bolanle who admitted to being a playboy once upon a time, shared that a man and a woman can truly be friends without being romantically involved with each other. According to him, he has shown the world that this is truly and indeed possible. Bolanle who made news as regards to his relationship with Yvonne Jegede has once again debunked the rumors saying he never had anything to do with Yvonne aside from friendship.
In an exclusive chat with BroadwayTV, Bolanle shared that he never dated Nollywood actress Yvonne Jegede and they were best friends.
“I never dated Yvonne Jegede, Yvonne was just my best friend. She is like a sister to me and it remains that.”
When asked how possible it was to share a platonic friendship with an opposite sex, Bolanle responded saying;
“Well I have shown them the possibilities of it being possible and I hope they have learnt from that. Part of my career right now, the whole situation with Yvonne and I, have a big impact to where I am in terms of how popular I got. I have a master’s degree in marketing and branding. I am a PR guru myself so we are here to sell the market, to sell the work. You buy into it that is your problem. We make our cheese and we are out. That was what happened.”
Speaking on how he joined the industry after years of living outside the country and how he was received, he said;
“I didn’t come to Nollywood thinking I was going to be accepted, I came to be a force to reckon with and for me it has been 100 % focus on the place where I want to go so I do things everyday that support where I want to be. I don’t see all the negativity; I don’t give ear to that. There are lots of challenges but I haven’t been challenged so far because if I have I won’t be here right now. I just see it as processes and periods. Nobody promised anything was going to be easy but we are here now and I thank God for grace.”
On what Nollywood has taken away from him, Nino said that he has made lots of sacrifices to be where he is today and the biggest being his children.
“Nollywood has given me the opportunity to become who I want to be, supported my dreams and has given me the opportunity to discover myself but they say you have all it takes but it’s also going to take all you’ve got. If you want the benefit of something you also need to want the cost of it so Nollywood has taken so much for me. I have made a lot of sacrifices to be who I am today. So what I always ask myself is am I willing to spend a few months or years of my life the way most people want so I can spend the rest of my life the way they cannot. So it is a decision and a choice for me. The most important sacrifice for me would be my kids. I have two beautiful kids, a boy and a girl but unfortunately I am separated from their mother but I would have loved to be there for them every day and see them every day but this is real life.”
He further stated that whatever he is doing right now is all for his Children and their future. He said; “The most important thing is that I am not a sentimental person. I am a realist and everything I am doing I am doing for the future of my kids not just for myself and to help other people, I guess I find solace knowing that I am not in the club or out there just having fun but working. I am a hardworking person and thank God for blessing my work so that justifies the fact like I said, the kids are not going to eat sand, I got to work.”
My name is Bolanle Ninalowo but I am popularly called Nino. I have seven siblings and I am a native of Ikorodu in Lagos State. I spent the first 15 years of my life in Nigeria. I relocated to Chicagoand I lived there for 15 years. I studied Accounting at Devry University and Marketing at Keller Graduate School of Management, both in America.
Career
I did use my degree to gain employment in various firms in America and Nigeria, before I decided to pursue my passion for acting. I was once a banker; I worked with Bank One. I was also an accountant at a company called General Growth Properties in Chicago. Upon my return to Nigeria, I worked with Guaranty Trust Bank.
Relocation
I decided to relocate to Nigeria because I had always wanted to pursue my interests in the arts and reconnect with the Nigerian society. That was a major reason why I was glad to observe National Youth Service Corps in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Movies
The first movie I produced was titled Rebirth and it was also my debut screen appearance. It won me the Revelation of the year at the Best of Nollywood Awards in 2010. The plot of the movie was woven around HIV awareness and stigmatization of people living with the disease. It was premiered in several cities in the United States of America. I hope to break into Hollywood very soon and there are plans to actualise it.
Challenges
I do not see challenges because I am very focused and determined. I believe power belongs to God and time and chance happens to all. Adversity causes some men to break and others to break records. The key to success lies is in our hands because we decide our own fate.
Acting
I broke the four-year acting hiatus because I wasn’t successful in other ventures .I have no issues with being typecast or asked to play bad boy roles in movies. I now get more scripts and it is as a result of grace and answered prayers. I am working hard on being the best I can be. I am of the opinion that any producer who casts me in his or her film deems me fit enough to play the role.
Interests
I moved on to other interests after the premiere of my first movie because casting directors and producers turned me down on account of my body size. I was told I was too big. Aside from acting, I also run a car dealership company which is a family business. My father who has always been a prominent car dealer bequeathed the business to my siblings and me. I once ran a record label called Diesel Music for three years. I recently wound down the label after I returned to acting.
Highpoints
I am a living testimony of Gods existence and power. I have worked with almost every reputable actor in the industry in just one year. I have also featured in several films that have yet to be released. My acting career is also gradually becoming financially rewarding. I am happy with where I am and things can only get better.
Strength
My selling point is my character and it has brought me this far. I am blessed with an image people find attractive.
Style
My style is simple and I like to be comfortable. I love wearing t-shirts, jeans and my sunshade. I wear sunshades and jewellery all the time.
Relationship
I am not married or in a relationship at the moment. I am very focused and staying off any distractions. Love is a beautiful thing. I wish to find love someday because everyone wants to be loved and appreciated.
Inspiration
I am inspired by success stories. I like to see impossibilities turn into possibilities and dreams come true.
nicerichard05: Not trying to be f gay o buh those nìpples are fuckìng too big nd it looks abnormal for a man to have them. xcept our sisters tinks otherwise
