What fatherhood has done to me — Itele d’Icon

Ibrahim Yekini, aka Itele d’Icon, an actor and director, claims that becoming a father has drastically altered many aspects of his life.

In an interview with Saturday Beats, he said, “Fatherhood makes one mature, act responsible, and think very well before taking action. This is because one’s children and wife are conscious of what one is doing. It has also made me to be more focused.”

The role interpreter, who was accused sometime ago of not taking care of his children, maintained that the kids were now doing fine. He said, “I don’t want to go back to that. They are all doing fine.”

Speaking on the lesson he learnt from the incident, he said, “Sometimes, when one is busy with work, one does not go back to check on some people and family members. It can lead to that kind of drama. I learnt that no matter how busy one is, one has to create time for one’s family, and not just send them money alone.”

The actor also noted that he prefers acting to filmmaking. He said, “I prefer acting because it gives me the ‘standard’ I desire. I do more acting than directing. It would be easier for me to quit acting than directing.”

Speaking on what he looks out for in selecting the cast he features in his movies, he said, “The first thing I do as a filmmaker is to pick someone I feel is good for the role and can interpret it. I always work with professionals.”

Asked if he had ever worked with anyone who turned out to be problematic, the actor said, “I believe that there is always an alternative for everything I do. That is how I think and that is what I have been doing from day one. I have been in a situation where I knew an actor was good for a role, but he is not a professional person. Because of that, I had to look for another actor to interpret the role well.”

Speaking on his forthcoming movie, ‘Kesari the King’, he said, “It is a collaboration with FilmOne Entertainment. Actors featured in it include Odunlade Adekola, Deyemi Okanlawon, Femi Adebayo, Lateef Adedimeji, Dele Odule, Adebayo Salami and Boma Akpore.”