Big Brother Naija alum and actor, Tobi Bakre was recently on the I Said What I Said podcast, where he talked about his break into Nollywood. The actor opened up about his early days as a wide-eyed amateur, revealing moments that taught him the ropes, sometimes the hard way.
He narrated his experience receiving his first on-set slap. “My first slap… Aunty Sola Sobowale,” Tobi recounted, still amused. “It was a scene, I read that scene, there was no slap in that scene.”
He explained that the anger she acted out wasn’t even scripted to reach that level, yet when the slap hit his face, it was real. “I had tears in my eyes, for real… it worked for the scene.” Still, he dubbed it a badge of honour: “My first slap was a legend,” he said amidst laughter. 
SEE ALSO: Niniola’s Secret 13-Year Marriage Revealed Following the Passing of Her Husband
The conversation flowed into his love for action roles in projects like Brotherhood and Gangs of Lagos.
Tobi admitted he likes action sequences, because he often dared directors, pushing him further. “When it comes to action or being active on set, I genuinely dare my directors… that’s fun for me,” he shared.
The former BBNaija housemate called himself a “daredevil” before the birth of his children, testing his limits but fatherhood changed the equation.
Now a family man, Tobi reflected honestly on how priorities shift. He said still owns a bike but rarely rides it. “I can still do those things but now, I’ll be more cautious,” he explained. “Now I’m asking more questions… I cared for my life but now I’m living not just for myself, so I care a lot more about my well-being.”
Ultimately, Tobi’s move from being a banker to being a finalist in the Big Brother Naija (season 3) and then acting has been one to admire with him starring in over 20 films and TV series. In 2025, Tobi Bakre was named Nollywood’s highest-grossing actor, with over ₦1.4 billion in combined box office earnings across his projects.
ALSO READ: Who Was Niniola’s Late Husband, Michael Ndika?
About The Author
Keep Up to Date with the Most Important News
