How Genevieve Nnaji Pranked Me On Set Of ‘Lionheart’ – Jemima Osunde Shares

Nollywood actress and medical doctor, Jemima Osunde discussed filming on Netflix’s Lionheart with her senior colleague, Genevieve Nnaji.

This was in a new interview with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu on Rubbin’ Minds. The movie Lionheart was Genevieve’s first Nollywood original feature film,

premiered on Netflix in 2018. Top Nollywood stars who featured in the movie include Pete Edochie, Nkem Owoh, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Jemima Osunde, and others.

Genevieve is known for her private life and Jemima admitted that she had the same idea of her prior to meeting her. However, it became a different story after she encountered the actress.

Jemima said; When I got the call for ‘Lionheart’, I thought it was a prank call. I had told the person that unfortunately, I had exams at school and I would not be able to do this project, sorry. That was it.

Then a day later, he calls back and he’s like “Oh, the executive producer said we should get your timetable, we will work with your schedule.

I was like The hell? I said I’m not doing, is it by force? Tell them I have exams in Lagos, you people are filming in Enugu, how do I want to do it?

Then he was like, Oh but Miss Genevieve–” I said “Wait, what? Who? Which of the Genevieves?” He was like, Genevieve Nnaji, that is the owner of–“, I was like “Ohhh, you should have started with that!.

I have always wanted to work with her. Always wanted to meet her. And I think the whole experience for me was wholesome.

 I went there with a perception. I thought she was very strict and nah, Genevieve was cracking jokes. I remember the day that I was supposed to catch a flight to Lagos for an exam I had the next day. My clinical exam which if I had missed was an automatic extra year. I missed my flight.

So I was sitting in Enugu on set at 7pm when I had clinical exam 8am the next day in Lagos. I was sweating, I was under pressure, and I was just like I don’t know what I’m gonna do.

 Anyone who has watched Lionheart knows it’s about a transportation company. So (Genevieve) was like “Ah, should we reserve one of the drivers for Lionheart?” I was just like honey, this is not a joke. I was under pressure. But she had sorted it out. She already had a way out for me. So it was somehow comical for her to watch me be under pressure and react not knowing what she had planned. I had the absolute best time working with her.