In this exclusive interview with Kemi Filani Blog, popular movie star and a happily married father of three, Yul Chibuike Edochie, talks about life as Pete Edochie’s son, social media scandals, why he stopped kissing in movies and other interesting topics.
Enjoy!
What’s up with Yul Edochie?
I’m fine, doing very well, regardless of all these crazy scammers and rumour mongers who wouldn’t let me rest. They are just bent on destruction. Especially the Facebook scammers. They were the ones that posted the purported accident story while i was shooting in Enugu. That very day, i left my phones in my car while i was busy filming. I didn’t even know what was going on, by the time i was done. I saw over 200 missed calls on my lines. My father too was calling because the news got to him too. My mum was so worried. Men! These things are just crazy but that’s the price we have to pay for fame.
Few days ago, it was also rumoured that you father died, how did you get the news?
That’s same thing i’m saying , these people just wake up one morning and post whatever comes to their minds. I have reported to Facebook to close all my fake accounts on their platforms but the more they shut them down, the more they open.
The rumours of my father’s death was just one of those things, because this is not the first time such reports have been published. But what got me really angry what the fact that some people had already started sending me condolence messages.
‘Pete Edochie was a great man. May his gentle soul…….’ What? They didn’t even call to confirm, but could pick up phones to type long condolence messages. It is really saddening. That was why i had to go to twitter to debunk the reports.
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| Yul and daughter |
Away from the social media drama, tell us more about Yul Edochie….
I am very down to earth. A lot of people have this wrong impression about me but I am not like that. We build this world around us for protection, but by the time you come close to me, you will see that I’m very down to earth. I try to be very friendly. No matter what I have achieved it doesn’t get to my head. I still hang out with folks and old friends. I am just the very easy going person who is always happy hardly get angry. I laugh a lot.
I’m Pete Edochie’s last son. My full names are Yul Chukwubuike Daniel Edochie. My father named me after an American actor. In fact, we were all named after foreign actors.
How was growing up like with him as a father?
It feels good. Growing up was really good with him as a father.
He appeared very strict in movies, is that how he is to you?
He is extremely very strict, but I thank God that He gave me a father like that. I couldn’t have wished for a better father. He is a strict catholic, so a lot of things I know today I learnt because of my background. Like I told you, I would rather die than dope. Kill me but I won’t dope and that’s how my father is. My father made us to understand that it is better to have a good name. Good name will get you riches and everything you need. That’s the kind of family I was raised too and my mum too is very strict. There wasn’t much money then to throw around but we grew up loving God and each other.
What is the biggest thing the surname ‘Edochie’ has done for you?
Lots of it though, but I think my own name paved a way for me too. That was why at a point; I don’t tell people I am Pete Edochie’s son. I had my reasons then. I am blessed and I also get recognition been Pete Edochie’s son. And I try as much as possible not to mess up the name.
How would you rate this year, so far?
It has been quite good. I got few endorsements. YulEdochieAcademy is doing very well. There are other stuffs I got into this year, but you know, one doesn’t need to blow his trumpet, but in all, God has been awesome.
You are seen as someone who kisses so much in Movies, how do you get off that feeling after the shoot?
I feel nothing. For me, it’s all about work. Some people say they kiss and other things get attached, but for me, I don’t feel anything at all.
During the shoot, I just die and wear the character I am playing, by the time we are done and I come back to myself, I feel nothing.
Funnily enough, all those romance scenes, they are about 5 or more crew in the bedroom with you, so how comfortable would you be to start feeling something else (laughs). Aside that, you still have lines in your head, you are battling to remember. So my dear, the supposed feelings would be far dead and gone.
How have you been coping exchanging salivas through deep kissing with different actresses in different movies?
At a point, I had to limit the kissing scenes I play. I know I did a lot of that while I was still young in the industry, but at the stage of my career, I reject a lot of roles that has to do with kissing and romancing. I can do romance scenes for you, perfectly without kissing. I can act that I am madly in love with a girl, without getting so romantic with her.
I often talk to the director to let me have it my own way without kissing the actress in question and they would let me. At the end of the day, the film would come out well.
Assuming that in the script, it was clearly stated that you are to kiss the actress; don’t you think she would feel so offended if you skip that part?
This is exactly what happens when you are not trained. It has actually happened to me and caused lots of issues on set.
I know lots of actresses look forward to kissing me on set. This particular one, saw the script and was jumping that she was going to kiss ‘Yul Edochie’, but I was tired of the kissing thing and asked the director to allow me do it without the ‘kissing’.
When the actress heard it, she was like ‘I have kissed so….so and so person’, but won’t do the same to her. She flared up. It was quite funny and annoying too.
I have never looked forward to going to kiss someone in a film. It is not professional. Those who undergo the real training as an actor can’t sit at home and keep looking forward to kissing in movies.
As an actor, you always travel around, how then do you cope with managing your Lagos State based family?
It is not easy. Trust me, it is not. I try my best. Whenever, I am in Lagos, I make sure I stay with my family. I do two or three movies outside Lagos, then I hurry back home to meet my family.
