Veteran actor and director Jide Kosoko has disclosed that he is currently in debt as a result of his most recent film, Eleko: Oba Esugbayi, which did not do well at the box office.
In a widely shared YouTube clip from his interview on African A-List, Kosoko revealed that the historical drama, which debuted in theatres in March, cost more than N300 million to produce and was financed by investors.
“My film ‘Eleko: Oba Esugbayi’ that recently came out and we took to the cinemas, cost us over N300 million. Do I have 300 million? You should know that some people gave it to me, and it was not that they dashed me; they invested in it, and we took the film to the cinemas,” he said.
He explained that despite its cinema run, the film failed to recoup its production budget, and the little revenue it generated was shared among stakeholders.
“Different things happened, and we did not earn our money back. The little that was earned was split. As I am, if you hear someone with debt dancing around their neck, it is me,” Kosoko added.
The revelation comes days after The Nation reported that the actor has been living with diabetes since 1996.
ALSO READ: Jide Kosoko Talks About 30-Year Struggle With Diabetes
Speaking in the same interview, Kosoko said his long experience with the condition has helped him better understand his health.
“I became diabetic in 1996; I understand my health better than some doctors do. Do not misquote me. I am not saying I know how to do everything; I just do not want to die,” he said.
The 72-year-old actor also opened up about his personal losses, disclosing that he has lost three wives, including the mother of his daughter, actress Bidemi Kosoko, who died during childbirth.
“I lost my wife during childbirth; that’s Bidemi’s mother. I have lost three wives,” he stated.
Eleko: Oba Esugbayi tells the story of Oba Esugbayi Eleko, a former Oba of Lagos, and features a host of Nollywood stars.
