What I Have To Say to People Who Hated Namaste Wahala - Ini Dima-Okojie

In 2021, Netflix released the Nollywood/Bollywood movie Namaste Wahala starring Ini Dima-Okojie, Richard Mofe-Damijo, and a host of other actors from both Nigeria and India. The movie was very polarizing. Some people liked it, and a number of other people absolutely hated it. The movie was clowned so many times, and as a result of that, actors from the movie like Ini Dima-Okojie were also clowned for their role in the movie.

Now, the actress is finally talking about it. Speaking during her appearance on the Netflix podcast, Never Late | African Time, Ini Dima-Okojie, finally opened up about the movie, the unique experience of filming it, and how she dealt with the people who didn't like it. Here's what she said.

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Speaking about how she dealt with the criticism from Namaste Wahala, Ini Dima-Okojie responded saying:

So first of all I think as an actor, you're used to hearing "no" a lot. So being on a film you like that is made, that people eventually like, how many times does that happen?

For this, first of all, I remember getting the sides for Namaste and I'm like, Nollywood Bollywood, hell yes. But then I read for the friend, Angela, and I was like "I don't really like her, but I'll go for the audition." Then I go for the audition and someone comes out and they give me the sides for Didi, the lead, and normally, I quiver. Auditions terrify me. I shake, I need to go to the bathroom. No matter how many times I tell myself you have done this so many times. A lot of times, I'm able to channel it into something good but sometimes the fear takes over. I remember auditioning for King of Boys, that has been one of my worst auditions in life. Like I tried to channel (the character) but my mouth was dry. I couldn't remember, and it was the most chill atmosphere but it was just one of those days where it just wasn't happening. It's very fearful for me so I need to prepare way before hand and this is them telling me, "Oh yeah, so you just have a little bit of time and you need to come and read for Didi". So I'm like this opportunity, I'm going to take it. So I go out, I come back, I go for the audition, it goes well. I get cast. And I was so excited cause it was a first for so many people. It was the first time for sure I was doing that. It was the first time for even the Bollywood people. Hamisha (the director), it was her first time doing anything film. And she would come to set saying "Guys, I'm learning. I know nothing." The DP, he was the first time as DP on a film. So I remember we would come on set, we would meditate, shower ourselves with love, and then you give your best and you put it into the world and you tell God, the universe, to do with it what it will.

Then the feedback. People, I mean it was okay for me that it was polarized but I mean the love that I got from people from countries I didn't even know existed was so crazy. And it's okay, that's the thing with film, it's okay for people to feel how they feel. It's very okay. Cuz people have different perspectives. For some people, it was way too cheesy, that's what we were going for and if it wasn't your palette, that's fine. Part two might be coming, I'm just putting that out there. You learn, even from sitting where you are. I watch it and there's so many things we could have done better but we did the best with what we had and you just learn from that. But for me, I focus on the love and it opened so many doors for me. If they didn't like it, don't worry, when they watch part two (laughs).

Did you like Namaste Wahala when it came out? Did you hate it? Will you be interested in watching part 2? What did you think of Ini's response? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below or on my Jide Okonjo Facebook post.

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