Veteran Nollywood actor Roy De Nani also known as Roy Leo De Nani, has opened up about years of alleged betrayal, professional blacklisting, and personal tragedy within Nigeria’s film industry.
De Nani, in an emotional interview on the ‘‘Where Is The Lie Podcast, alleged that a powerful figure in Nollywood issued directives to producers and directors to stop casting him, effectively sidelining him for extended periods, reportedly up to 30 years. This alleged ban, he says, devastated his career and finances at a critical time.
Speaking deeply to the length at which the ban broke him completely, he revealed the heartbreaking loss of both his son and daughter, due to the financial hardship. According to his account, the children suffered from sickle cell anaemia and required urgent blood transfusions that the family could not afford amid his dwindling opportunities.
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“I lost my son and daughter and no one in Nollywood came to visit me,” De Nani stated, highlighting the industry’s silence during his darkest moments. He credited his wife with providing crucial support that helped him endure.
De Nani, a longtime fixture in Nigerian cinema known for his roles in various productions, described feeling abandoned by colleagues he once considered part of a professional family.
Many veterans have previously spoken out about exploitation, unpaid work, and isolation in later years.