Actor Rotimi Salami has shared the painful experiences he endured early in his career when producers repeatedly rejected him for movie roles, citing his physical appearance as the reason.
In an interview on Feelrightnews TV’s YouTube channel, Salami recounted how the constant discrimination and sidelining from filmmakers pushed him to reconsider his career path.
“It was not easy at all during the time of our movie auditions because it was quite far from where I was living,” he recalled, explaining how he traveled long distances in pursuit of acting roles. However, despite his dedication, he was met with repeated rejection.
“For three years, I was given only one movie role,” he revealed, highlighting the emotional toll the experience took on him.
The most painful rejection, Salami admitted, came when producers bluntly told him that his appearance was unsuitable for their projects. Due to his small face and slim build, they often preferred actors with a more muscular physique.
“I cried when some producers said they couldn’t give me movie roles because of my face and body,” he confessed.
The frustration of being overlooked led him to return to school, but he remained determined to make a name for himself in Nollywood.
Since starting his career in 2007, Salami has defied the odds, building an impressive filmography.
He starred as Lanre in Hey You! (2022) and played Joe in the Netflix series Far From Home (2022).
In 2021, he featured in Shadow Parties, Lugard and The Miracle Center. He was also part of Fate of Alakada (2020) and More Than Just Four Letters (2020).
