Uzor Arukwe Laments Nollywood Producers’ Obsession With His ‘Odogwu’ Roles

Nollywood actor Uzor Arukwe has expressed frustration over what he describes as film producers’ repeated attempts to cast him in “Odogwu” roles, insisting that he wants the opportunity to explore different characters.

Arukwe made his position known during an interview on The Creativitea Podcast, where he said producers continued to offer him similar roles because they believed the characters would deliver returns on their investments.

“All the producers in Nollywood now want to kill me with Odogwu character. You can’t put me in a box,” the actor said.

He urged filmmakers to experiment with other characters for him, arguing that the same willingness to take a chance on a particular role could help introduce audiences to a different side of his acting abilities.

“The same way someone took a chance on that character, you can also create another character and give to me,” Arukwe added.

His comments highlight his desire to move beyond a character type that has become closely associated with his screen presence and demonstrate his versatility through a wider range of performances.

The development comes after his manager, Mautin Tairu, popularly known as Mr M, acknowledged sharing some viewers’ frustrations over Arukwe’s frequent “igbotic” roles.

Tairu made the admission on X while responding to a fan, R. Ekpedeme, who had complained about the actor’s frequent shouting in such roles.

“Uzor needs to leave the igbotic roles for a while. I need a break from the shouting,” the fan wrote.

Arukwe’s remarks and his manager’s response have drawn attention to the actor’s recurring screen persona and the need for filmmakers to balance commercially familiar characters with opportunities for actors to explore different creative directions.