Caz Chidiebere Obidike: No woman will behappy, if her soulmate is always in company of female friends
…I may be a preacher of gospel someday
Introducing the captivating world of Caz Chidiebere Obidike, an exceptional Nigerian filmmaker and skit creator hailing from Anambra State. Caz possesses the remarkable ability to establish a restaurant in the heart of Lagos, utilizing the tantalizing aroma of his delectable cuisine to entice nearby residents and transform them into loyal customers.
As an extraordinary movie director, Caz finds immense fulfillment in the artistic and dramatic elements of screenplay, exuding an aura reminiscent of a lion. Despite his parents’ aspirations for him to pursue a career in medicine, this handsome individual has carved out a unique niche for himself in the film industry, defying their wishes. In the year 2000/2001, Caz directed the widely acclaimed film “Hour of Grace,” which quickly gained viral popularity. Following its success, he went on to create another cinematic masterpiece titled “Across the Border,” which spread like wildfire.
The overwhelming feedback from both films deeply affected his parents, leading them to vehemently oppose his career choice. Despite attempting to distance himself from the spotlight, Caz ultimately returned to the world of production in 2005, fully embracing his role as a movie director.
Many are unaware that Caz, who embarked on his acting journey in 1999, grew up in a privileged home, where all his needs were readily met.
It was only after leaving his parents’ home that he experienced the pangs of hunger. During his upbringing, his mother operated a restaurant as early as 1983, while his father’s garage boasted three cars. Caz began driving a car as early as Junior Secondary School 3 student, and although his father was never involved in politics, he was offered an uncontested position as a counselor for his local government constituency while he was in his second year in the university. However, he declined the opportunity. Caz’s father hails from Awka, while his mother originates from Enugu.
Affectionately known as Cazman, he is legally married to Manana Chidiebere, a German medical doctor. This illustrious figure in Nollywood is not only an actor and movie director but also a producer, model, and musician, having graced the screens in numerous blockbuster films, solidifying his status as one of the most sought-after talents in the industry. Recently, Chidiebere Obidike, the editor of his life, sat down for an interview with CREEKVIBES OLUWADAMILARE DANIELS to shed light on his journey.
Excerpts:
Educational background and growing up?
I studied Biochemistry at Enugu State University Of Science And Technology (ESUT), graduated in 2005 and then moved to the US Poland School of Art in 2013 and 14. I grew up in Enugu, I attended National Grammar School, and I had some part of my primary school in Nsuka.
Can you share misconduct experience on location?
I have never really had much, but one funny one played out in 2018, it was one of our actors whose smoking habit attracted the neighbourhood’s guard, and they invited the police. The actor is a known face, so the policemen were also surprised to see him, but we thank God, we were able to cup the situation before escalation.
How will you ward off a budding actress throwing herself at you on location, knowing that you are the movie director?
The truth about that issue is that the way you lay your bed is how you lie on it, if you see me physically, you will think twice before making such passes at me, even as a man.
Hope your beautiful Dutch wife does not get angry with you for getting to meet and work with actresses on locations?
I was already in the spotlight before we met, but the truth is that no woman will be happy if her soul mate is always in the company of female friends. A woman will always be a woman. Emotional moments played out sometimes, but I handled it like a man who loves his wife.
Does she visit you at locations to check your well-being?
Funny enough, she is not in Nigeria, she visits, and I have also made it a point of duty to visit her in Germany regularly.
How did you meet her?
We meet in London on one of my business trips.
What do you want Nigerians to know about you?
I am an actor that don’t drink alcohol or a soft drinks, I don’t smoke either. I only go on water whenever I am thirsty, and I have been running that routine for 19 years now and still counting.
I have never smoked hemp since my being have been existing for close to 44 years.
What about cigarettes?
I have tried cigarettes, it was as a result of the director’s influence in 2004 while in the tertiary institution, then I was understudying my boss, but I left the habit before graduation.
Did you smoke to impress your boss, or to feel irie?
Not to impress anyone, I just wanted to feel what smokers felt that made them a chimney.
What is an uncommon part of you that people don’t know?
People don’t know that I am very emotional, I look tough but, I can shed tears within seconds for stuff that breaks my heart.
While growing up, your mother used to run a restaurant, will you want to own one?
No, not at all, if there is anything I want to become in the future is to be a medical doctor.
(General laughter)
Where is your base?
I am currently a Lagos-based movie director, my movies are mainly shot in Asaba, Owerri, Enugu, Lagos, Benin and other locations, I am mobile-ready to move to a location that suits my storyline.
Do you have a political ambition?
Not really I have been given an unopposed slot before but I rejected it.
Why did you decline?
People thought I declined because I was still a student but, not just because of that, on some occasions, I have been made returning/canvassing officer of a political party of which we had some meetings which did not go down well with my being. May be, because I was young, and my mind was not made-up.
What about now?
I can go in now, I have had one or two calls. I am been careful because I wouldn’t want anything to pull me down, whenever I want to do an important thing, I have carried out some grassroots empowerment programmes, although not on high grounds, but at least it was appreciated by those who benefited.
Conversing with you revealed how upright you are, and I discovered that there is a spirit in you, have you considered being a pastor?
In layman’s language, I am a born-again Christian, when I travelled to the United States to study something unique happened. It was not about going to church but it could be about knowing God, there were smaller gods in those days in Africa before the emergence of the Europeans who channelled us to the big God, for now, I am a universal worshipper, but someday I may be a preacher of the gospel. The spirit you noticed in me is what makes my people call me Odogwu, once you know the almighty God anybody that sees you will see that spirit.
What are you currently working on?
I will not disclose it; I am currently working on a project with RokTV, and I also have some skit content.
I saw some of them, but I would appreciate you translate for viewers who don’t understand the Igbo language.
Ok, I will do the translation, sometimes you just have to represent your locality, and I enjoyed mine very nicely. At some point, I was an ambassador of Igbo Artists, so that’s one of the reasons why I like to represent my region, just like some Yoruba guys will speak their dialect too. I am happy for some Igbo artists who use their dialect to sing songs and the song, went viral.
•Photo/Video source: Instagram handle: iamcazchidiebere
