Nollywood actors; Osita Iheme (Pawpaw) and Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki) revealed how they came into limelight with the help of Late Chukwuka Emelionwu, popularly known as Kasvid who created their screen name ‘Aki and Pawpaw’. Kasvid also created the movie character Mr. Ibu.
Kasvid died last month in a fatal accident, while on his way to his village in Anambra State. He was reputed to have produced popular movies such as: “Mr. Ibu in London”, “The last Burial”, “August Meeting”, “Isakaba”, ‘Aki na Ukwa” among other movies.
The actors during a candlelight/tribute night which was organized by Nollywood stakeholders on Tuesday, paid their heart-breaking tribute to him.
According to Osita Iheme (Pawpaw), Kasvid was his boss before he later became his friend.
“Kasvid was my boss who later became my friend. I met him in 2002, in Eungu.
“Then I was based in Aba, where I was horning my acting skills. I decided to relocate to Enugu to hustle. While in Enugu, Kasvid was shooting a film. When he sighted me, he developed interest in me.
“He just believed in me immediately he sighted me.” Fighting back tears, Pawpaw recalled how the late film maker created the ‘Aki and Pawpaw’ brand. Narrating further, he said “Kavid asked me if I would like to go into acting.
“I told him, I have been into acting way back in Aba. He then asked me again, do you know Chinedu Ikedieze who featured in the “Last Burial.” I answered him in the affirmative.
“Then I didn’t know he was the producer of the Last Burial. Later, he invited a writer to write a script around Chinedu and I. That was how the movie, ‘Aki na Ukwa’ came about.” Osita said.
Chinedu (Aki) said he met the late film maker while he was an undergraduate at Institute of Management Technology, IMT, in Enugu.
“I went for an audition, and he saw one-smart looking small boy and he immediately developed interest in me.
“A week after that encounter, he visited me in my hostel on campus. Kasvid took a risk in us. He invested his money in us. He saw something in us that other producers did not see.
“He made us who we are today,” Aki echoed.
