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| Pete Edochie and son, Yul |
When I came in and asked about you, I was told you were in the smoking bar, do you smoke?
Good question. Well I smoke but sometimes not
always. Whenever, I want to be alone to think about some things, I chill with
cigarettes but I don’t dope or smoke weeds-just cigarettes.
Why not weeds also?
No, it will never get to that extent. My father
warned me that I can smoke but not weeds or drugs. You do a lot of crazy things
under the influence of dope. It makes you act irrational and it kills the brain
cells.
But you also do more of alcohols?
Not much too. I just drink but I don’t drink to get
drunk. May be a little bit tipsy, but never drunk.
Let’s formally get to meet you as a person, aside
the actor we see on TV, who is the real you?
I am a very simple guy I think, and from my own
assessment of myself I love life, I love enjoying myself and I would say
I am not really a bad person because I don’t engage in bad stuffs. I love
peace. I love it when everywhere is peaceful and people are happy. I try as
much as possible to preach peace in everything I do. I would rather walk away
from anything that is going to cause problems. I am very down to earth. A lot
of people have this wrong impression about me but I am not like that. We build
these walls 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 and hardly
gets angry. I am 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 your famous 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 his children?
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 in
and my mum too is very strict. There wasn’t much money then to throw around but
we grew up loving God and one another.
Tell us about your growing up?
I was born in Lagos. I think my mother was in law
school then and after that I was brought down to Enugu that was where we grew
up. But we were always going to Lagos my uncle’s place in Lagos and
Port-Harcourt.
Where are you from?
I am from Anambra State. Nteje to be precise, in
Oyi Local Government Area.
You are from a family of how many?
We are six, five boys and a girl and I am the last.
Why did your brother Linc leave the industry?
Yeah, Linc started before me. He started like a
year before I got in. So, I would say we all have our own destinies.
So do you think you are going to leave the industry
anytime soon?
No, I am not even thinking about that. Never. I
studied Theatre Art and I took my time to read this so I didn’t just get in.
Maybe you will take it to another step like
directing and producing?
Definitely, but not producing. I don’t like doing
things that I can’t do. I have a passion for acting and I have a passion
for directing but I don’t have a passion for producing. Right now, I am
planning on doing my own films. I am going to get a producer who is very good
with that. Pay the producer to run everything for it to be professional. So, I
won’t say because is my film let me do everything, then I will mess it up.
When are you planning to do that?
Not so far from now.
I read that you are a very shy person, are
you still very shy?
Yeah, I think so.
But actors are not supposed to be shy how come you
are able to face the cameras?
Well, you know when you are acting it is a
different ball game. It is quite different when it is work. You put
yourself in and do what you have to do. Like when I need to act there is this
spirit that just comes and once I’m done it goes away but I think I could be a
little shy sometimes.
Has your shyness caused you any form of
embarrassment with the ladies?
No; not that far.
Have you experienced any form of embarrassment from
your female fans?
I don’t see them as embarrassment. Actually a lot
of people do a lot of things. One happened recently some girl saw me and she
wanted to take pictures and then she kissed me so deeply and passionately right
in front of my wife. I am so lucky; I have a wife who understands, she is
very understanding.
You’ve been married now for a very long time?
I have been married for ten years now.
That means you were very young when you got
married?
I was 22 when I got married and right now I am 32
years old.
And your father approved of you getting married at
a very young age?
Yes of course. My father too got married when
he was 22 years old.
So you are saying you really got wedded at that
age?
Yeah sure and that was in 2004 and this is 2014 and
I am 32 years old now.
How did you summon the courage to take that step at
that age?
I think my parents helped me because I have known
my wife for a long time. Just about when we got into school that was when I met
her. Even before I finished school my mother knew I was going to get married to
my wife. My mother really liked her and by the time I finished I wanted to get
married to her but I had nothing and she had nothing. We just finished school
were still doing our youth service then. I was talking with my mother and she
asked me if I wanted to get married and I said yes and my mother told me I
shouldn’t worry that she was going to talk to my father. Because my mother told
me that if I hope to marry her when I have enough money, someone else might
take her away. She told me my father wasn’t rich when they got married but
today he is the person he is. So you see you can really plan this things, the
most important thing is finding that person who understands you and who wants
to be with you when you are nothing. And if I hadn’t done that then, it would
be such a problem for me now to find the right person to marry. Everybody wants
to come in then you won’t know who is real. So I would say I was lucky to have
someone who said I am going to be with you, even when I had nothing.
You have older ones who were not married then, and
going by the Igbo tradition you hardly get married before those older than you.
So, how did you do it?
It wasn’t really a problem at that time I had two
brothers who were not married and they told me I should go ahead if that’s what
I wanted. At that time, I went through a lot. I won’t tell you it was all
rosy. At some point in my life I thought it was the biggest mistake I made
because none of my friends was married at that time. Pulling through was
not easy. I handle a lot of things then like a kid, but my father will always
tell me don’t worry about now later on in life you will find out you did the
best thing for yourself, and I am starting to realize it was the best thing to
me.
When you got married where were you guys living?
I was living in Enugu in my father’s house that was
where I started. You know I love the fact that we are talking about this. The
young ones now see me living well and doing well and they want to be like me in
a day, but it takes time. You need to be focused and not just focused, have
passion in what you do. Believe in that thing whether or not you are going to
die, keep doing it. You can’t make it in a day it takes time. I am happy we are
talking about this it was crazy but I thank God I am fine.
If you hadn’t gotten married then would you have
gotten married to someone in the industry?
Yeah of course there are a lot of good people in
the industry.
Who would you have opted for?
I can’t say (general laughter), if I say that it
means I am actually looking for another wife. I don’t have any crush on anybody
in the industry. I just wanted to learn how to act from the actors.
You are a star, yet, no endorsement, why?
Yeah, one almost clicked a while ago but still
hoping it will come. My manager keeps telling me that few companies have been
calling him.
Do you feel bad about not having one yet?
No! I don’t. I am always happy seeing people happy.
So, I don’t get jealous seeing my colleagues bag endorsement deals.
What is the biggest thing the surname ‘Edochie’ has
done for you?
Lot of things. 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 being Pete
Edochie’s son. And I try as much as possible not to mess up the name.
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.
How many days do you often stay away from home?
I try not to stay much. At most, one month. Earlier
in my carrier I was doing three months, just to meet up but now I think I have
gotten what I wanted. So I have slowed down, within one month. I should be
home.
So how long can you stay without sex?
(Laughs). I don’t know oh. I can’t answer that
question. Next question please. You guys won’t koba me oh.
ENTERTAINMENT EXPRESS-RITA OKOYE
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