Bilkisu Abdullahi is a tall, lanky Fulani beauty that can be featured as a lead actress by any producer or director in any film that would fetch them good money and fame.
She relocated to Kano after her father, who hitherto lived in Lagos, retired from service, while her mother, a Fulani from Yola, insisted on staying in Lagos after the death of her husband. After her mother remarried, Bilkisu Abdullahi decided to relocate to Kano to stay with her guardian.
READ ALSO: I once dated IBB – Kannywood actress, Ummi Zee Zee
Recently, she spoke with Neptune Prime’s correspondent, Saleh Inuwa about her challenges and why she almost quit acting because she was nervous at the beginning.
Neptune Prime: You are now one of the actresses working in Baba Karami’s Company. We are aware that there are several allegations against Baba Karami whose real name is Abdullahi Sani Abdullahi, that he hardly features a lady in his film without her compromising her body for him, did you encounter that?
Bilkisu: Well, before joining Kannywood, I heard of all sorts of dirty allegations against Producers and Director. When I decided to join Kannywood, I didn’t know anybody in the industry, so my brother introduced me to Baba Karami, who engaged me and featured me in one of his films ‘Aikin Duhu’, which was my first film and since then, I have been getting offers from different Directors and Producers.
NP: What is the storyline of ‘Aikin Duhu?
Bilkisu: It was about me meeting one guy in a Keke Napep, he asked for my number and I refused because I thought he had nothing to offer, only for me to discover later that he is extremely rich which I regretted so much.
NP: Before now, you would only watch Kannywood actors and actresses from a distance, now you are part and parcel of them. How does that feel?
Bilkisu: I feel marvellous that today, I am sitting side by side with Ali Nuhu, Adam A. Zango, Sadiq Sani Sadiq. It’s like a dream to me, but honestly, since I am now about six years in the industry, I have become a star too and I’m finding it difficult to move freely in town because of thousands of fans; some want to see me, some want to have my number, while others, including my female fans, are interested in having me as their friend or to take photographs with.
NP: There are actresses not as beautiful as you are; you are tall, slim, and beautiful but yet you didn’t penetrate the industry very fast, why?
Bilkisu: I heard people accusing me of being arrogant. The truth is, I will never zip down for any amount. Some ladies are in Kannywood only to hustle, they can do anything to secure roles in big films but I am not like that and I will never do that. For me to sleep with a Director or Producer for him to feature me in his film I’d better quit the industry, my womanhood is my pride and it will remain so until I get married.
NP: What state are you from?
Bilkisu: My father is from Kano, which means I am an indigene of Kano State. My mother is Fulani from Yola. I was brought up by a responsible family. By the way, all the things people are hearing about taking place in Kannywood are not true; the Industry is so decent and one can be proud to belong to it. Even though you are new and you start getting series of roles alongside senior Kannywood stakeholders, people would start making all sorts of allegations, but all in all, I’m happy with what is happening in Kannywood and the sky is my limit.
