I left Nollywood because they only give me roles as an armed robber, actor Chinedu Okeke breaks silence

Veteran actor Chinedu Okeke has broken his silence on the real reason behind his departure from Nollywood, revealing that being typecast in crime-related roles ultimately led him to step away from the industry.

In an exclusive interview, Okeke shared his frustration with being pigeonholed into playing characters like armed robbers and hitmen, roles that, while initially appealing, began to negatively affect his reputation.

"I was initially comfortable playing the bad boy or the hitman," Okeke explained. "But over time, the public started to see me only as that character. Fans would approach me and say, 'See that thief from the film,' even when I was off-camera."

Despite his success, Okeke felt trapped in a cycle of crime-based roles and struggled to break free. "I live a very responsible life, and I’m well-educated. I tried to talk to directors, asking if I could be cast in different kinds of roles, but each time, it was always about crime," he said.

Frustrated by the lack of variety, the actor made the difficult decision to step back from Nollywood. "I had to leave. I believe I can do better, and I didn’t want to be remembered solely for playing criminals."