Since Maryam Yahaya featured in the popular Kannywood movie Mansoor, she instantly became a celebrity, Bilkisu Shema was actually the one pencilled down to feature as the lead actress in Mansoor, but along the line when the producer of the film Ali Nuhu and other crew members assembled to start shooting the film, Bilkisu Shema was nowhere to be found, Ali Nuhu personally called her severally but she was out of reach.
Then Ali Nuhu decided to give the lead role to Maryam Yahaya, though she was initially jittery by failing to read properly some portion of her script, all the same, Ali Nuhu and other members of the crew guided her so well that at the end of the day the film Mansoor became an instant success, since then she has featured in several films not less than ten (10) alongside Ali Nuhu either as his daughter, wife or supporting actress.
READ ALSO: I was almost rejected in the industry because I am too fat – Kannywood actress, Rahama MK Suleiman
Because of the success of the film and how Maryam Yahaya became a celebrity instantly, Bilkisu Shema went to town with unfounded allegations against Ali Nuhu, but when her campaign in the media against Ali Nuhu did not succeed she decided to approach him and apologize to him and since then he has featured her in several movies like Mujadala, Karshen Mujadala, and host of others in fact she now has tremendous respect for the king of Kannywood more than before.
Last week Neptune prime’s correspondent, Saleh Inuwa spoke with Maryam Yahaya about her successes, career, marriage, her relationship with Ali Nuhu, and why she was involved in campaigning for President Muhammadu Buhari and Malam Nasiru El-Rufa’I in 2019 to be president and governor respectively.
Excerpts of the interview
Neptune Prime: You are among hundreds of Kannywood actors and actresses that campaigned for Buhari in 2015 and 2019 and also campaigned for El-Rufa’I in 2019 to be Governor of Kaduna State which he has since won, how much did they pay you?
Maryam: You see I have a mentor in Kannywood in the person of Ali Nuhu, before he featured me in the film Mansoor I was virtually unknown in Kannywood, in fact, Bilkisu Shema was to play the lead role in Mansoor but when she did not turn up for shooting Ali decided to give me the role, and it will take an actress only one film to featured alongside Ali Nuhu for her to be a celebrity, but since then I featured in more than 20 films with Ali Nuhu either as his daughter or wife.
NP: Is there anything hidden between you and Ali Nuhu?
Maryam: I told you before that he is my mentor, if you see me in his house you will think that I am his blood daughter, this is one man that has been in Kannywood for close to 20 years but nobody will tell you the bad side of him, he is like a father to us, in fact, most of the successful young Kannywood producers one way or the other Ali Nuhu is responsible for their success, he will not mind to give you millions of Naira for you to produce a film and he can even play for you in the film, either free or with a little fee, if you go to his house you will see that most of us actors and actresses in Kannywood turned his house into our own family compound, he has a very understanding wife and two lovely children, they are so happy that Ali has no time for another woman apart from his wife, and this is very rare, in fact at times after shooting a film I use to go to him and kneel down and apologize to him over my role in such films, the director or producer may demand that I disobey Ali Nuhu in the film which is very difficult for me because he is one person I respect so much.
NP: When are you getting married?
Maryam: Well as you can see am still young and pretty I am contemplating doing many things in the nearest future, like marriage, going to school, being a producer, to continue acting or to get married and forget about the industry, my parents are happy with what I am doing, in fact, some people are saying that I am arrogant, it is true because you men, you have this feeling that Kannywood ladies are cheap but when it comes to romance, I am stingy with my body, some even call us prostitutes, as such I use to carry this posture of arrogant lady so that the society will not look down on me, but I am an easy-going person and I always mind my business.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va74ZvU2v1IqKByXoX3d
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
Maryam Yahaya is such an amazing Kannywood actress. Pls I will advise you to be very stingy with your body. Much love dear