LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Nollywood star Uzor Arukwe has addressed swirling social media speculation about a supposed romantic relationship with actress and reality television personality Bamike Olawunmi-Adenibuyan, widely known as Bambam.
During a recent interview with BBC Igbo, the actor clarified that their collaboration on the film “Love in Every Word” marked the very first time they had ever met. Despite the convincing romance portrayed on screen, Arukwe emphasized that their connection never went beyond professional boundaries.
The Nollywood actor explained that he deliberately approached intimate scenes with caution because Bambam is married to fellow reality TV star Tope Adenibuyan, popularly called Teddy A. According to him, respecting personal boundaries on set is a principle he follows with every co-star.
“Before I touched her, I asked her if there was any way I could touch her that her husband wouldn’t like or that might cause problems at home,” he said.
Arukwe further described his routine practice of discussing limits with female colleagues before filming romantic scenes to avoid misunderstandings. The actor noted that the conversation was meant to ensure that nothing done for the sake of storytelling would create tension in Bambam’s marriage.
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“I usually meet my female colleagues to ask them how far is too far? If I put my hands here, will your husband get annoyed? If I touch you in this manner, will your husband criticize it?” he further explained.
However, once “Love in Every Word” premiered, viewers quickly began speculating that the chemistry between Arukwe’s character Odogwu Panranran and Bambam’s role Achalugo mirrored a real-life romance. Online discussions intensified, particularly amid rumours circulating about challenges in Bambam’s marriage.
Arukwe said the claims caught him off guard, especially when the speculation escalated into allegations that the pair were secretly dating. The actor stressed that his responsibility as a performer is to make fictional relationships believable for audiences, not to fuel off-screen narratives.
“That movie was the first time I had ever met her. But people started saying we slept together and were dating, which was completely false,” he said.
Furthermore, he also hinted that he has previously considered legal action when similar rumours escalated into more serious allegations, including claims involving pregnancy. Throughout the controversy, Arukwe maintained that his interaction with Bambam remained strictly professional despite the public fascination with their onscreen dynamic.
