Rotimi Rasak Salami (born 30th November 1980) is a Nigerian actor, director, producer, set designer, scriptwriter, brand influencer, model, MC, and an entrepreneur and CEO of Monski Media Concept. He is known for his roles in both Yoruba and English-speaking Nollywood films.
Rotimi’s growth and rise to fame in the industry have been a gradual but steady one. His stature is often used in describing him because the good-looking actor is blessed with the rare gift of looking “forever young.” Although he is still young, Rotimi is not as young as he looks. He is more than 40 years old but still looks like he is in his 20s.
Biography and Profile Summary of Rotimi Salami
Rotimi Salami is a Typical Lagos Boy
Born in Surulere, Lagos State, Rotimi Salami has spent a better part of his life in the Western part of Nigeria, where he comes from. He was born on the 30th of November in the 1980s to Mr. and Mrs. Salami. His father is a steel construction engineer, while his mother is a businesswoman. Of Salami’s five children, two boys and three girls, Rotimi is the first son and the only child who has gained popularity.
In his early childhood, the actor relocated from Surulere to Ajangbadi, still in Lagos, where he obtained his primary school education. He schooled at St. Mary’s Nursery and Primary School Ajangbadi and received his first school leaving certificate.
Later, he moved to Ogun State for his secondary education and attended Abeokuta Grammar School, after which he returned to Lagos for his tertiary education. Rotimi graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Lagos State University (LASU). However, his passion for what he does and the urge to grow led him to obtain a Diploma in Film Directing from the New York Film Academy in the United States.
The Challenges of Having a “Baby Face”
Looking at Rasak, one can hardly tell that he is over 40 years old. The best guess would be that he is in his mid-twenties, but that’s far from the case. He is one of the few celebrities in the industry to possess this unique personality. While his boyish look has earned him a lot of admiration, especially from female fans, unfortunately, it has not been helpful in his career. Apparently, the good-looking actor is being discriminated against when it comes to some movie roles where there is a preference for men who look different.
Unfortunately, in a society where men have been stereotyped as tall and muscular and to have as many beards as possible, Rasak’s boyish stature poses a hindrance. He has difficulty getting some roles in the industry due to his physique. In one of his interviews, he revealed that he had lost many movie roles due to his “Babyface,” especially in the early days of his career. He stated that several producers did not care about the face anymore after winning a major award in 2017. However, his looks still pose a little setback for him in his acting career.
Despite the Set Backs, He has Achieved a lot in the Industry
The multi-talented actor is known for his presence in both Nollywood and the Yoruba movie industry. However, there is more to him than just acting. Rasak is also a director, producer, set designer, scriptwriter, brand influencer, model, and MC. He is equally an entrepreneur and CEO of Monski Media Concept.
Although his passion for acting has been there since his childhood, the superstar started acting professionally in 2007 with the movie “Unknown Revenge.” He thereafter got into acting fully and has since featured in many Nollywood movies, Yoruba movies, and TV series, including popular ones like Papa Ajasco, Super Story, and Tinsel. According to him, Super Story was what led to his first major recognition. After featuring in the “Because you love me” episode of the series, people recognized him as an actor.
On the part of his career as a director and producer, he made his directing debut in 2009 with the movie “Leave my boyfriend.” After that, he produced and directed a television comedy series titled “Kuti’s Career Palace” in 2010. The series was aired on major Nigerian TV channels in 2013. Again in 2012, he directed and produced two movies; “Letter to my mother” and “Beautiful World.”
Rotimi Salami’s movie and TV shows include:
- Unknown Revenge
- Papa Ajasco
- Super Story
- Tinsel
- The Actor (2021)
- Fate of Alakada (2020)
- The Miracle Centre (2020)
- Ofeefe (Mirage) (2019)
- Unbroken (2018)
- Mentally (2017)
- Omoye (2017)
- Stormy Hearts (2017)
- Three Wise Men (2017)
- Timeless (2017)
- Just Not Married (2016)
Nomination and Awards that He has Received
Within these few years in the industry, the hardworking actor has won several awards and nominations. The “Kuti’s Career Palace” series got him a nomination as the best comedy writer in the African Magic Viewers Award in 2014. He has also won others like;
- Best Actor in Nigeria at the African Movie Academy Awards
- Best Actor in a Supporting Role at African Magic Viewers Awards
- Most Promising Actor at the Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards in 2016
- Most Promising Act to Watch at City People Entertainment Awards
- Best Actor Yoruba Movie Gist Award 2020
From all indications, the actor is yet to reach the climax of his career as he keeps improving and exploring beyond limits. He also hopes to venture into politics in the future if he gets the chance. According to him, it is a means through which he can fix some of the national problems he sees around him.
Rotimi Salami is a Married Man with Kids
Outside acting, the creative young man has a family which he adores a lot. He is happily married to Jumoke Arinola Salami, an actress and CEO of L&B PRO Limited. They were wedded in 2015, and their marriage is blessed with a daughter and son, Bliss and Legend Salami.
His daughter Bliss who is a child model will be 9 years old on the 7th of October (born in 2015), while Legend will be 6 on the 19th of September (born in 2018). Rotimi said he owes his growth in the industry to his wife because she advised him not to quit when he wanted to. Also, he describes her as being supportive and understanding.