“My name is Abbey Abimbola popularly known as Cracky Don. I am a professional actor in Malaysia, and also in Nollywood. I have featured in lots of movies…”
Christian Agadibe
After some years in Malaysia, Nollywood actor cum producer Abbey Abimbola, popularly known as ‘Cracky Don’, is back home.
The six-pack thespian, who turns heads wherever he goes, has returned with a brand new movie entitled, NEPA, set to hit the cinemas any time from now. Recently, he opened up to TS Weekend about his sojourn in Malaysia and eventual homecoming. Enjoy it.
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Can you tell us briefly about yourself?
My name is Abbey Abimbola popularly known as Cracky Don. I am a professional actor in Malaysia, and also in Nollywood. I have featured in lots of movies both in Nollywood and in Malaysia. I did lots of movies before I left the country for Malaysia in 2013.
Which movies did you do in Nigeria before you left?
I did ‘Igunugun Eye Aye’, written and produced by my very good friend, Jeff Owolewa. After that, I came up with ‘Ikoko Ajegun Jeran’ or something like that. I produced another movie, ‘Agbara Eda’ and also ‘Lako Ni Mo Wa’. Then I produced ‘Alfa Abubakar’.
How did you fit into the Malaysian film industry? Was it easy or tough for you?
Absolutely it wasn’t easy. When I got to Malaysia, I wasn’t given a chance because I went for different auditions and wasn’t accepted. Over there, you have to do a mix of martial arts, if not, they will tell you ‘oh you have to do extra’. When I got there, I was like ‘in Nollywood we do a lot of talking. We do drama’. But over there, they are not into drama. They do more of action movies. And if you consider my kind of body, the best you can do is go for mixed martial arts. So, I went for mixed martial arts, and after learning it, I said this is not enough for me, because we have a whole lot of mixed martial arts in the world, and for me to stand out, I learnt skilled art – a basic fight in Malaysia. After learning skilled art, I became relevant and I started getting different jobs.
What’s the title of the first movie you did in Malaysia?
The title of the movie is Badang. It’s a local movie.
What earned you a role in the movie?
I went for the audition and passed.
What do you consider as your selling point for the role?
My selling point is my very nice body, Alhamdulilah for that. They asked if I could fight and I said yes. Then they asked me to do a few things, which I did perfectly and even added some extras, and they said ‘oh, this is what we want’.
Despite the fact that you couldn’t speak their language?
By that time I had started learning the language. You have to learn how to speak Malay. If you don’t, you will be limited to some things over there. And as time went on, I think I was the first black guy to ever get a cinema card in Malaysia. Cinema card is like being a certified actor. With my cinema card, I can go anywhere, even travel out of Malaysia, I mean within Malaysia not outside, but to other Malaysian states). So, I think I’m blessed.
Tell us about the movie you are shooting in Nigeria?
The movie is titled ‘NEPA’. We’ve lots of arguments about this title and I said to myself ‘NEPA is something we can all relate with’, and considering my kind of status and stature, when people see me, they think I can fight. You know, if you fight in Nigeria, they will be like ‘you want to be like Jackie Chan or Jet Li’. NEPA is something everybody can relate with. There is PHCN now, but people don’t know what PHCN is. They keep saying ‘up NEPA!’ I think people need to come to the cinema and watch the movie when it is out.
What is the message in the movie?
The message is that, there are some (bad) people behind NEPA. We just don’t start attacking NEPA workers on the street; they are not the ones in charge, there are some people behind them.
What big names do you have in the movie?
I have Ayo Mogaji, Murphy Afolabi, Sanyeri, Toyin Alausa, and Ijebu…
What’s the shocking thing you have come across in the movie industry in Nigeria and Malaysia?
When you are talking about women, that one is normal.
What is the craziest thing a fan has done to you?
A female fan once touched my body. I have not been slapped before but… And they always say ‘you have a nice body. I wish I could touch your six-pack. I wish I could do this or do that’. But I thank God because that’s a plus for me.