Marriage still on my mind –Monalisa

Screen goddess, Monalisa Chinda, in this exclusive and intimate interview with Yours Sincerely, opened up on a wide range of issues, especially plans to settle down soon. Enjoy the encounter.

Weekend Getaway, your latest effort was recently premiered; did the outing meet your expectation?

Of course, the premiere was good. It went very well. I thank God for that and a lot of people came out to show their support and the movie was produced by I, Ini Edo and Emen Isong. It was directed by Desmond Elliot and paraded A-listers, both young and old in the industry. We had to bring up and coming actors to act alongside seasoned ones, which made it more unique. The whole package was first class. It is already selling out in cinemas. As at the time we got the review, we had made substantial amount for just cinema opening. I really thank God for this project. Aside producing, I also acted in the movie.

This is my third effort as a producer. The first one I ventured in was Kiss and Tell, which was done in 2010 and was premiered in 2011. The second was Catwalk. It was also recorded in 2010 and was launched in 2012 and then this one.

Why the decision to go into movie productions?

Producing has always been at the back of my mind as an actress and as an artiste. I think I should speak the mind of a lot of people who are in the arts. They want to diversify. They want to try new areas and to also show various capabilities on what they can do. Naturally, we all want to try other aspects as long as it is within the genre of what we do- entertainment. I wanted to do something different. Right now, I am even going into theatre, live performances which are already dying in this country. So people like me and a few others are trying to resuscitate the already dying theatre culture.

You produced and featured in Dance for Life late last year, any plans of making it an annual event?

It was a benefit concert. Because the first one was actually done from my own pocket, I am also trying to see how I can get corporate bodies to partner with me to bring the second season into life by the Grace of God. I am looking at that date for us to do something bigger than the first one.

 Do you also dance for leisure?

It is not really about dancing; it’s a fusion of dance, proper play on stage with all that stage works and not just necessarily going to dance for dancing sake.

But how often do you wriggle your waist?

As a theatre artiste we all do the three arms of theatre. That’s dance, music and acting. So, you must be able to do each of the three and then specialize in one or more.

That show was my first time of dancing in public. I have never done so in my life. Except in the past when I used to dance in the theatre way back in school as a theatre artiste.

It is like 20 years after performing on stage in school; I came back and did a grand performance late last year again.

What was the feeling like that day?

It was a mixed feelings actually. Because of the massive turn out and because of the fact that a lot of people enjoyed themselves and didn’t want to go. I was in between rolling on the floor with tears of joy and also praying that this will continue. It was a divine feeling.

So, you’re out to revive live theatre with dance?

Yes. I have always wanted to have an opportunity to revive the theatre which is dwindling already in the country. I’d always wanted to do that through dance and thank God it has started. People look at dance as a non productive art but I don’t think so. Dance is even more rigorous than acting. When you dance, you tell a story through your body movement and all of that. You are able to send out message but if you are not intelligent enough, you cannot be able to understand and comprehend what message that is passed. You have to love the art, you have to love theatre, you have to love singing, opera, and all of that before you will be able to have a grasp of the message the performer on stage is trying to send through dance. It was not the regular shows you attend. It was completely different, it was more intense.

Since you veered into films production, what has the experience been like?

It’s been tough. It is so challenging to think that half the time you are thinking of how you are going to make back your money. Distribution is one of the things that is killing the industry and driving most filmmakers crazy. People want to continue to be relevant but you are not going to throw away your talent because people out there are not ready to support you. So, we try to keep the movie industry alive by producing quality movies.

It’s been a good experience and also knowing that I am not getting younger, I need to step aside for the new ones to come and explore even at that, it’s still even difficult for them now because there is really no artiste out there. I think we are all coming for different reasons. We are not coming for the love of the job. I don’t know, they just have this silly idea that oh, if I come out they’ll see me and people will like me. No, it is not all about that. You call an audition for instance, 4,000 people will come for the audition and you can only get five people at the end of the day. That five people would have gone through rigorous screenings before they are able to deliver their lines. That is why we keep recycling the same faces even when we are getting older and tired. We still try to look slim and young while competing with the younger ones, it’s really not easy but we are going to get there soon.

Your current movie was a joint effort, when do you intend going solo?

I would like to go solo to see what it’s like. I will still get a seasoned director to direct my movies, but I want to do it on my own basically, financing it on my own. Once I can have an additional producer who can access things and make sure artistes are on set when they are meant to be on set, then I will do that. Hopefully, my next job will be a solo effort.

I am looking at this year by the grace of God.

Why finance it yourself when there are grants from government?

Really! I don’t want to go there. You have to do what you have to do. You cannot wait for approval that would take years.

 It is not our fault. I think it’s from the top. We make our applications and all that. We have to go through a lot of due processes before a N10m grant would be approved. I Monalisa Chinda will not wait for that. I will see how I can struggle to put funds together to do my movies. If I wait, I might lose it all.

 How far have you gone with your recently floated range of beauty products?

I’ve gone far and currently making plans for the launch which is the proper thing to do. It is called Monalisa Mcode beauty products. That is the name we are using for now.

Who are your partners?

Nobody, it’s my initiative. I have always wanted to do this. I went to the London School of Beauty and Consultancy years back, I didn’t finish because my country wanted me to serve. So with the experience I got from there, I decided to start my own thing here in Nigeria and would soon go international.

 We have a factory in Lagos and outside Lagos. We are doing it in a proper way and not just getting kerosene and mixing it with something else. We will unveil the products soon at an international launch.

 We are doing body cream and hand cream. What is available now are hand cream and body spray for men and women along with the soap.

  It is going to be affordable and also meant for everybody.

What prompted your NGO, Arise Monalisa Foundation ?

From the word go, in fact, when I hit my teens, I have always wanted to give. I would have no shoes, my cousins would come and take the only shoes I have and I would be walking barefooted and I wouldn’t feel any inhibition. I wouldn’t even feel anyhow. My mother would ask me why I am walking without shoes and I would say Sisi came and took my shoes. And my mother would ask about the other shoes, I will reply that those ones are old.  

Basically, I just want to always give and share things, whatever with people.

  Even when I started, I didn’t do it for the public to know. When I was in Port Harcourt, I used to go to the motherless babies homes quietly, give whatever I have to give without waiting for Christmas or Easter or any special day. It has been a way of life for me.

My foundation is not up to a year but my giving to the society has always been like forever.

 I want to concentrate basically on women and the girl child. A lot of women are relegated to the background and hence it is affecting the girl child. Whether we like it or not, the world is ruled by men. So, some of us are not necessarily trying to be in any competition whatsoever, we want to see how we can protect the women from a lot of mishaps happening at the moment. There is no week that gets by and you don’t hear that a girl is being raped. Those are issues I personally want to address hence my Arise Monalisa Foundation.

Also my TV talk show comes under the Arise Monalisa Foundation, because I will be dealing with real life issues. It is not politically based. It is not religious, but it is going to be dealing with life issues like domestic violence and children being raped. I am not going to exonerate myself  as one of those who did not go through all of that, hence the passion.

I want to see if I can talk to the women. Sometimes, it’s not the man’s fault. Women also put themselves in that positions where they are always being molested. You need wisdom to be with your man whether you like it or not. In any relationship love is never ever enough. I don’t like this I love you so much, I cannot do without you stuff, who wants to hear that?

Does that mean you don’t believe in love?

I believe in love. Love is the main reason we are even sitting down here. But sometimes, it is really not enough. You want to get things done. You have to take that emotion out and be real and address situation as it is.

How do you relax when not working on set?

If I am not working, I am out of the country. I am next door here, Ghana or Togo. Or I’ll just sleep for one week, that’s all.

What are the things that give you joy?

I like being in the company of people who are not judgmental, who are real. I like to be happy irrespective of what is happening in the country. I also like to travel to some exotic beaches and be alone with God.

Without any man by your side?

If the man is available, yes, but I just want to be with God.

 I am from a religious background - Anglican. I still remember all the moral teachings from when I was five or six years old including my mother’s first Bible story as I sit here with you. I used to be in the choir way back when I was seven. I go for choir practices. I went to an Anglican school, Arch deacon Crowther Memorial Girls School. It’s a convent school. I am quite religious.

Your father was murdered. Do you still miss him?

Every other day that goes by, I think of that man and God bless his soul; he was the reason I am doing what I am doing at the moment. My late dad would give his last Kobo to those who do not have. So I took after my dad. My mum was a career woman; my dad was the one that always saw that we were well taken care of in all ramifications. My dad was a good cook. He studied in Germany and most of his life was in Germany, in fact, he is a German as far as I am concerned. He was always making sure that the children were well taken care of. My mum was a career person before she retired.

Your first marriage, which produced your five year-old daughter crashed and you got divorced later. And recently a marriage rumour trailed you, which you denied?

We would like to know if marriage plans are still on your agenda now or later?

I would love to. I am designed to be under a man. I am not going to lie that I like the single mother thing going on, but whereby there is no one at the moment, it is not like a do or die affair for me though. I have been there before and anything I am going to do now has to be done right. I won’t say because this one happened, I’ll just move on, no. If I take any bold step to settle down, it has to be right by the grace of God. I am not ready to make another mistake otherwise I will remain the way I am.

Do you believe in marriage?

I believe in marriage. Whether you like it or not, it is the best option.

How soon will the bells toll?

I honestly do not know about that and I honestly can’t tell

But you will remarry

I just told you that I am designed to be under a man

Have you found love again?

Why are you asking me that question? Love is neither here nor there. I am a lover. I mean, I love to love. When I say that I love to love, what does that tell you?

There is this rumour that you are in love again?

Is there anything wrong with that?

Is there any man in your life as we speak?

Yes, there is.

And they say he is Lanre Nzeribe. Is he?

No comment.

When are you walking down the aisle?

I am not going to be roped into this controversial question.

People are also alleging that you are pregnant. Is that true?

You can see me. I am not pregnant.

What would you say you regret most about your past?

I don’t think I regret anything really but the only one thing I regret is the fact that I am divorced. I am from a royal family. From where I come from, I am the first person to be divorced. There has never been on record that the first daughter will leave her matrimonial home though it has to do with life and death otherwise I would have stayed put to make it work. I tried to make it work but this sort of thing is not left for one person alone. Two people would have to come together and agree. That is the only thing I regret, having to raise my child without her father, it is painful but I have to live with it. It is better that way rather than having a little child growing to see all sorts of violence. She would be dysfunctional. Apart from that, God has a reason for that.

Since leaving your former husband, what would you say life has taught you?

I am stronger and wiser now. I have known how not to get involved in anything emotional. If you are too emotional even in a relationship you don’t get to think. You don’t let emotions overrule your sense of reasoning. I have understood what it means to be very patient and to persevere and also be careful with people around me. When you think somebody is your very good friend, you end up finding out that the person is actually the enemy within. I have learnt all of that because I have been alone and exposed to all of that. Whilst I was in my marriage, I don’t really go out. I just do my work and go back home.

I am a very strong willed person and also an open minded person at the same time. I know who I am. It is only when you do not know who you are especially in Christ that you will succumb to all sorts of pressures. Whether we like it or not some will say, she is a hypocrite or he is a hypocrite. That is not the case. I am a Godly person. I am not a perfect person either. If I have done something wrong, I quickly run to see how to make amends or look for solutions to the problem and repent from whatever sins I may have committed. I am highly determined and I am focused. I do not go by what people say. I see the truth and the truth is constant.

If your ex comes back and sober, will you accept him?

No. It is not all about hate. I have moved on, he has moved on. He is married with kids, how is that?

Do you have a political ambition in the nearest future as a famous actress and a brand?

That shouldn’t be overruled. I don’t have the hopes and aspirations for now but if it comes, I will accept it.

Does your little daughter miss her father?

She doesn’t know her father. She was barely a year when I divorced. She is just five now.

How would you describe yourself?

I am just the girl next door with no airs around her. Because I know who I am, I try to be as humble as I can. I am not a difficult person. I try to reach out to people always.

What will make you cry?

I’m moved to tears when I see people who are really struggling in life. There is so much money in this country, yet millions are suffering daily in the midst of plenty. I also get moved to tears when I see innocent people who are being accused and convicted wrongly. Those are the things that draw me to tears, not gifts.

Has love been fair to Monalisa Chinda?

I don’t know.