For Tunde Olaoye, co-directing ‘Behind the Scenes’ alongside Funke Akindele is less about a single film and more about a creative partnership years in the making. From the early days of Jennifer’s Diary to Akindele’s box-office-dominating cinema run, Olaoye has witnessed firsthand the evolution of one of Nollywood’s most influential storytellers and insists her rise was always inevitable.
“From the beginning, it was obvious she was meant for the top,” Olaoye says. “She’s not ordinary. There’s always something extra about anything she wants to do.” Produced by Funke Akindele and co-directed by Olaoye and Akindele herself, ‘Behind the Scenes’ follows Deronke “Ronky-Fella” Faniran, a successful real-estate mogul and mother of two whose generosity has made her widely loved. But as the people around her grow to expect her kindness, Ronky-Fella gives until she is completely drained, neglecting herself in the process and forcing a reckoning with the emotional cost of self-sacrifice.
The film is led by Funke Akindele and features a large ensemble cast that includes Tobi Bakre, Uzor Arukwe, Ibrahim Chatta, Dele Odule, Iyabo Ojo, Fausat Balogun, Scarlet Gomez, Destiny Etiko, Ini Dima-Okojie, Uche Montana, Hafiz Oyetoro, Veeiye, Kamo State, Handi and Wanni Danbaki, and Ejiro Onojaife.
According to Olaoye, Akindele’s strength as a director lies in her clarity. He describes her as a producer-director-actor-writer who arrives on set with a fully formed vision. “Everything is already in her head,” he explains. “She just needs your help to realise it.”
That clarity, he says, makes collaboration seamless. Even when Akindele isn’t physically present on set, the direction remains intact. “It’s like a mental storyboard,” Olaoye says. “We’ve already seen the scenes before we shoot them, sometimes even before we cast.”
Beyond the structure and discipline, Olaoye also offers a glimpse into the lighter moments behind the camera. One running joke on set, he reveals, was an unofficial superstition tied to Akindele’s wardrobe. “Anytime she comes to set at night wearing her sultana, it rains,” he laughs, adding that the coincidence happened often enough that the crew jokingly asked her to stop wearing it so filming wouldn’t be delayed.
Still, Olaoye is clear that ‘Behind the Scenes’ marks a tonal shift from Akindele’s previous projects. Asked what sets the film apart, he doesn’t hesitate. “It’s an emotional rollercoaster,” he says. “You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll see yourself, and you’ll see someone you know. It’s like you’ve been groping in the dark and suddenly a bulb has been turned on.”
For a film titled ‘Behind the Scenes’, the promise feels deliberate, an invitation to look beyond appearances and confront the emotional labour, generosity, and quiet burnout that often go unseen. And if Olaoye’s conviction is anything to go by, this is not just another Funke Akindele film; it’s a revealing one. “Take that one to the bank,” he concludes.
