Bashir Abubakar Maishadda is only 32-year-old, but today he is one of the richest producers in the Kano base Hausa film industry. So far he produced many successful films and made millions of naira as profit especially with the film “Hauwa Kulu” as his favourite in Kannywood.
Currently, he is working on a record-breaking movie titled “The Right One” to be directed by Kannywood’s King Ali Nuhu and sponsored by Kabiru Musa Jammaje. Actors and actresses, like Ali Nuhu, the famous Segun Arinze from Lagos and other Lagos based actors and actresses will be featured in the new film.
Bashir Abubakar Maishadda who will recently wed one of Kannywood’s upcoming actress spoke with Neptune Prime’s correspondent, Saleh Inuwa last week in Kano.
EXCERPTS OF THE INTERVIEW
Neptune Prime: You are very rich, handsome and popular tell us how you became a producer?
Bashir: Well first let me say that God has blessed me, I am clocking 32 years now and I have produced many successful Hausa Films, with Hauwa Kulu as my favourite. While Ali Nuhu a director, producer and first-class actor is one guy I enjoy working with, at times he gives me useful advise and even helps me in identifying locations.
NP: Are you married and how many children do you have?
Bashir: I am single but not available because I am going to get married very soon, to one of my actresses. We have to be marrying them because the society has a bad perception about us. I had relationships before in the industry but nothing serious comes out of it but if you have been watching my films of recent you notice a lady that is almost constant in my films, she is the one am going to marry. She is not only responsible and respectful but she is very close to my heart and my parents have already approved of our marriage.
NP: You are working on a new film “The Right One”. How much is the film costing you?
Bashir: The film which is 70% completed and will be premiered in cinema houses before releasing into the market will cost me N35 million. I am the producer, Kabiru Musa Jammaje will sponsor the film while Ali Nuhu is the director. It will feature a team of Kannywood actors and actresses including prominent ones from Nollywood, notably Segun Arinze, this is a very good project that will unite actors from the North and South.
NP: If you are appointed to head a committee to re-organize Kannywood, how would you handle the assignment?
Bashir: Film production is a legitimate business and the society is looking up to us to produce good films for them to entertain them. On the other hand they call us all sorts of names as if it is only in acting that people have bad eggs. Some of us here are graduates in different fields, some can recite the Quran. Let me give you another example Hassan Giggs married Muhibbat Abdulsalam from Kannywood and they are successfully leaving together, Aisha Aliyu Tsamiya is one decent lady in Kannywood that we are always proud of, you will never hear her name being associated with scandals.
NP: If you marry your fiancée which you said is from Kannywood, will you allow her to continue acting?
Bashir: Yes she can only be a producer, my children too will not act I will send them to the best school to be doctors and lawyers. I have only a diploma but I want to go back to school and get a University Degree. We are in a new world that when you are not properly educated you find it difficult to even run your business.
NP: There are people with the opinion that Ali Nuhu is arrogant and pompous yet you relate with him very well?
Bashir: Forget about what people are saying, Ali Nuhu is a director, producer and the finest actor we have here. You can hardly feature Ali Nuhu in your film and not make huge profits. Honestly this is his time and we are yet to get somebody that will dislodge him. It is true that we quarrel but after some time we will settle our differences and move on, he helps me a lot by giving me professional advice and identifying good locations for my films.
NP: What is your future plan?
Bashir: My future plan is to marry my present fiancée and go back to school. I want to be also an international producer. Let me also speak about some ladies that join Kannywood because they want to rich, they are the ones giving us a bad image. Being a producer, I built my own house, I perform Hajj and lesser Hajj several and maintained a fat bank account.
