Veteran Nollywood actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo, has reflected on the early struggles of Nigerian filmmakers, describing the industry as one built on the “tears, sweat, and blood” of its pioneers.

In a post shared via Instagram on Monday, Kanayo drew a dramatic comparison between Nollywood and Hollywood, stating that American actor Denzel Washington would not have endured the same working conditions without visible strain.

“If Denzel Washington puts in the number of hours I put in on production here, his color will change to charcoal the next day. Because we built this industry with tears, sweat, and blood,” he said.

The veteran actor, who has featured in numerous Nollywood classics, also reminisced on the harsh production conditions of the 1990s, particularly the use of outdated lighting equipment.

“Some of us are lucky to still have our health in good condition. We started this industry at a time when there was a light called 2K. If they bring one 2K on you, they will remove it from your name,” he added.

Kanayo’s reflections highlight the resilience and sacrifices of Nollywood’s early players, many of whom worked with limited resources to build what is now one of the world’s largest film industries