‎By Teddy Nwanunobi

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‎Popular Nollywood actor, Uzor Arukwe, has urged filmmakers to take creative risks, and entrust him with different characters.

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‎Uzor, who is popularly known as Odogwu, was addressing concerns over his frequent portrayal of wealthy Igbo characters, popularly referred to as ‘Odogwu’ roles, in Nollywood films.

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‎Speaking in a recent interview on CreativTea podcast, Arukwe said filmmakers, particularly within the YouTube film market, often cast him in similar roles that depict the flamboyant, affluent Igbo businessman.

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‎“All the producers in Nollywood now want to kill me with Odogwu character. You can’t put me in a box,” he said.

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‎The actor, who rose to prominence with his role as Odogwu Obiora in Omoni Oboli’s ‘Love In Every Word’, stated that while the trend has become repetitive, the popularity of the Odogwu persona has also brought him wider recognition and increased brand deals.

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‎He, therefore, urged producers to

entrust him with different characters.

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‎“The same way someone took a chance on that character, you can also create another character and give to me,” he said.

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‎His remarks followed a viral post on X by a user, R. Ekpedeme, who wrote: “Uzor needs to leave the igbotic roles for a while. I need a break from the shouting.”

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‎The post triggered conversations among film enthusiasts, with several viewers calling for more diverse casting to allow Arukwe explore roles beyond the Odogwu stereotype.