Nollywood actor, Titilope Kuti, also known as Ade Tiger, who gained recognition for his role in the Netflix series, King of Boys, has disclosed that he was surprised by his transition from playing a character in King of Boys to portraying Adigun in Kunle Afolayan’s new Netflix series, ‘Anikulapo: Rise of the spectre.
The actor shared this in a statement on Friday when PUNCH Online asked about his experience with the new series.
Ade Tiger, as he is fondly called, admitted that going from playing a political thug in King of Boys to a local hunter in Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre caught him off guard.
He explained, “It was a big surprise, even bigger than I expected. Many people come to my social media daily to confirm if it was really me in Anikulapo. The filming experience was completely worth every sacrifice.
“The entire shoot lasted about 87 days. I dedicated the same level of commitment as I did for King of Boys, if not more this time. I completely immersed myself in the character from day 1 and remained in that mindset throughout. I was Adigun on and off set until the very end (I remember Taiwo Hassan, Ogogo’s reaction when we shot our first scene together in the palace, he said ‘I was worried for you initially, but I see you came ready.’
“There were many challenging moments but we all supported each other like a family from start to finish, taking care of one another. This is what we have to give every time as actors, stepping into different characters just to give the audience an experience. I would do it again if given the opportunity. It’s a life of service.”
Regarding how he landed the role, he said, “I didn’t audition for the role, but I did a reading to assess my local dialect as a way to gauge the work required and its duration. Kunle Afolayan had a specific intention for me in this role, he had mentioned it to me three years ago, so when the call came, I was ready to devote the same level of commitment to developing the character and perfecting my dialect as a show of appreciation for the trust placed in me against all odds. There were people who might have doubted my ability to pull it off.”
He also noted that since filming the series, he has noticed that the public’s reaction to his role in the movie has been one of surprise and disbelief.
He remarked, “Complete surprise and disbelief, the transformation was incredible (great work from the special effects and make-up team). Adigun and Ade Tiger represent two completely opposite ends of the spectrum, with nothing in common. They are two completely different types of films, and then there is the Yoruba aspect with me speaking ancient dialect and all.
I am not really sure which aspect they find most surprising, or if it's all of it combined, but the feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive, and I am honored to once again provide the fans with an experience.”
Since appearing in King of Boys 1 and 2, Ade Tiger has been steadily gaining fame.
King of Boys 2, a series adapted by Netflix in August 2021 and consisting of seven episodes, directed by Kemi Adetiba, brought the talented actor into the spotlight.
In an interview with The PUNCH in 2022, the actor explained talked about how difficult his role in King of Boys was.
He stated, “It was very tough, I have to admit. Portraying the character ‘Ade Tiger’ in the King of Boys was one of the most demanding roles I have ever performed in acting. However, I’m glad I accepted the role because of my desire to take risks. Honestly, I am amazed by some of the great reviews I have received since the second season was released.
“Working on the same set as Sola Sobowale, Remilekun Safaru, Akin Lewis, Richard Mofe-Damijo, and others brought out the best in me, and I can assure you of that. It gives me a sense of satisfaction, and there is nothing more fulfilling than seeing your dream of playing a significant role in a major movie like King Of Boys come true.”
