Comic actor Kehinde Olasehinde, known to many as Pa James, has shared his experience working with veteran producer Wale Adenuga, the creator of the popular television series Papa Ajasco and Company.
Speaking during an interview with media personality Lucky Udu, the actor said he is still connected to the producer and continues to appear in the show.
Naija News reports that he explained that working on the series played a big role in making him widely known, even more than his earlier appearances in Yoruba films.
He also said the job helped him financially at the beginning, as he was able to buy his first car after joining the production.
He went on to explain that things have changed over time.
According to him, the show is no longer produced regularly as it used to be in the past.
He said that after shooting a number of episodes, the cast may not be called back for a long period, sometimes up to two years, before filming resumes again.
Because of this break in production, the actor said it is now important for those involved in the show to have other means of earning money.
He added that although he can take roles in other movies, he cannot use the name Pa James outside the series because it has been officially registered and belongs to the production.
Kehinde also spoke about how his pay has changed over the years. He said that when he first joined the show, he earned a small amount per episode, but his fee has increased over time to a higher rate for each episode produced today.
Despite this increase, he explained that the limited number of episodes produced each year makes it difficult to depend on the show alone for steady income.
He said: “I still work with Wale Adenuga. He has been good to me. Working with him gave me popularity even more than when I was in Yoruba movies. On money aspect, he really tried for me. I bought my first car when I started working with him. Before, we used to work back to back but now, once we shoot some episodes, they might not call us again until two years.
“To work with him now, you must have a side hustle so that you can pay your bills. I can work in other movies but I must not bear Pa James because the name has been trademarked. When I first started working with Wale Adenuga, I was paid N2,500 per episode. Right now, it is N45,000 per episode and it’s about 10 episodes a year.”
Papa Ajasco and Company, produced by Wale Adenuga Productions, has been on Nigerian television since the 1990s and remains one of the country’s longest-running comedy series.
The character Pa James has become one of the most familiar faces on the show over the years.
