Renowned Nigerian actor Hanks Anuku has shared the devastating impact a viral video had on his career and personal life. The video, which surfaced in 2022, falsely portrayed Anuku as mentally unstable, causing widespread speculation and concern about his mental health.
The controversial footage showed Anuku dressed in tattered clothes and seemingly talking to himself, which led many to believe he was experiencing severe mental distress. The situation prompted Nollywood actress Shan George to step forward and refute the claims, asserting that Anuku was not mentally unstable.
In a recent interview with content creator Lucky Udu, which gained significant attention on Sunday, Anuku clarified the circumstances surrounding the video. He explained that the footage was taken from a movie set and that he was preparing for a role requiring him to portray a mentally unstable character.
“I was trying to get into character for a role I was going to play, a madman role. Someone who was not in his correct senses or right frame of mind,” Anuku stated. “So I had to go naturally visit the environment on how I would play it in that same neighbourhood. I was just showing the way the director wanted me to do it, meditating and getting into character.”
Anuku vehemently denied the rumours of drug use and illness, emphasizing that he was entirely sane. “They said a lot of stuff. They said I was sick, on drugs, I am not sick, I was not on drugs, maybe they saw me depressed, depression can bring stress. But me being on drugs, that’s not true: I am not a madman, I am very sane,” he asserted.
The actor lamented the significant repercussions of the video, which led to a loss of friends, job offers, and income. “I lost friends, producers no longer contacted me for jobs. I lost a lot of money, I lost jobs, and I was jobless. People did not care about me. It was God who directed my footsteps to a good soul,” he shared.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Anuku expressed his heartbreak over the situation. “I went through pain. If you were in my shoes, you would feel it. I was heartbroken for these people to do this to me.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Emmanuel Mensah
