Why does this Kannywood actress want to quit the exciting world?
On how she met her heartthrob, Saratu says that she is convinced that the relationship was one made in heaven. “I have no doubt that my proposed marriage to Abduljamal was made in heaven. As a result of that, I am very optimistic that it is going to work out for me this time around. […]
On how she met her heartthrob, Saratu says that she is convinced that the relationship was one made in heaven. “I have no doubt that my proposed marriage to Abduljamal was made in heaven. As a result of that, I am very optimistic that it is going to work out for me this time around. The kind of love he has for me is nothing but true love. I have no reason to doubt that he loves me as well. This is a man that just saw my films and immediately fell in love. He got my telephone number and called me. That precisely was how our relationship started. Right now, Abduljamal is head over heels for me and I am also madly in love with him. By the special grace of God, our wedding is coming up in December, this year. I am particularly happy owing to the fact that I am going to have Arab children and that might mean not onlyleaving my country, Nigeria, but also quitting filmmaking”, Saratu contended.
The actress, known for her dynamic roles in most of the films she has featured, says that she is not unaware of the fact that people wonder why various film directors usually assign her roles that make many regard her as an arrogan and mean human being in real life. Clearing the air on her mistaken identity, Saratu maintains that the roles she plays in films are assigned to her by her directors and as usual, she needs to perform to her very best. “Naturally, I put in my best in whatever I do and it is just the same in acting. I fit in to such roles and that is why my directors assign them to me. As a matter of fact, since I am into acting not by accident, but out of zeal and enthusiasm, I am happy doing what I am doing without minding the roles assigned to me or what people think about the way and manner I act in films. All I know is that I am neither arrogant nor mean in reality”, she said.
Sunday Trust spoke to some members of the Kannywood to describe who really Saratu is. Ibrahim Mandawari is one of them. He explained that the character in the film is different from the one in real life situations. “What people should try to understand is that roles which are acted by a character in films are not necessarily a reflection of his/her character in real life. Of course, no one can deny the fact that Saratu is perfect when she is acting mean and arrogant roles, but in real life, she is a very friendly and peaceful human being. Those of us who know her very well can testify to this. If you move close to her, you would realise that the Saratu that you see in films is not the same woman in reality. Even though she cannot be described as a perfect human being as no one is, she is a responsible, generous and easy going human being”.
Also commenting on the Saratu’s personality, one of the oldest female Kannywood actresses, Hauwa Ali Dodo, said, “In fairness to Saratu, she is simply a nice person”.
Saratu says that her foray into filmmaking is without a focus. On what specifically attracted her to film industry, She recalls: “After obtaining a diploma in Business Administration from the Kaduna Polytechnic in 1990, I secured a job with the Tropical Commercial Bank where I worked for two years before I got married. As fate would have it, the marriage collapsed. Thereafter, I secured a teaching job with a primary school. Then as a teacher, I realized that there was the need to educate and enlighten the wider part of the society. As a result of that, I decided to join the Hausa film industry”.
On how she started, she said, “There was a film producer, Ali Anisa, whom I will forever remain grateful to. When I told him about my intention to join the film industry, he encouraged and invited me to play a minor role in one of his films titled Feleke and since then, I never looked back and to be very frank with you, I have even lost count of the number of films I have featured in so far. I think nine years of serious and intensive filmmaking is not a joke”.
According to the popular actress, her career has been very smooth and rewarding particularly considering the impact she has been able to make within the last nine years in the industry. In her words, “pursuing a career in acting has been very rewarding and what I appreciate most therein is the courage and support from my fans. That is what has been keeping me going. Knowing full well that my fans expect much from me, I just cannot help but deliver anytime I am acting, I put in my best in whatever role assigned to me so that I would feel fulfilled and that my fans would not be disappointed in me”.
On the impact of Kannywood to the society, Saratu described the industry as a pride to the North in particular and the country at large; stressing that she is fulfilled being a part of the industry.
The 41-year-old actress says that she will forever remain grateful to her fans and foes “I will forever remain grateful to my fans and enemies. My fans have really served as a source of inspiration for me. They have made me feel happy that at least there are people who appreciate how I act in films. Also, those who think that they hate my acting styles have also done me some favour. They have at least put me on my toes. I mean that they have really helped me to develop through their criticisms. I would just like to urge my fans and well wishers to keep praying for me so that Almighty God make things easy for me so that my dream could come true”.
Among Saratu’s films are Na Gari, Gidan Iko, Haraba, Hazaka, Hannun Jari, Mafia, 419, Daso Yar Ibro, to mention a few.