Nollywood box-office queen and filmmaker Funke Akindele has revealed that her hit comedy-drama Everybody Loves Jenifa stands as the most expensive production of her career, citing the heavy logistical demands of cross-border filming in Ghana and Nigeria.

Speaking in a recent interview with CNN Africa’s Larry Madowo, the 49-year-old actress and director detailed how transporting cast and crew to high-end locations like Ghana's Safari Valley Resort sharply escalated overall expenses.

Akindele also highlighted her preference for custom set construction over utilizing rented private homes, a studio approach that further added to the financial scale of the project.

"Everybody Loves Jenifa is a very expensive film because we went to Ghana. We filmed in Ghana and Nigeria. We flew all the cast and crew to Ghana... I build my set by myself. I don’t go to people’s houses to shoot. I create my set myself," Akindele shared.

Despite the hefty production ledger, the film achieved massive commercial success following its December 2024 theatrical debut, ultimately grossing approximately ₦1.88 billion to become one of the highest-earning titles in Nigerian cinema history.

Reflecting on her journey beyond the screen, Akindele candidly addressed the emotional toll of navigating high-profile personal setbacks, including public scrutiny surrounding her past divorces, first from businessman Kehinde Oloyede in 2013, and later from media producer Abdulrasheed Bello (JJC Skillz) in 2022.

"When I cry, I lock myself in the room, break down and cry. When I am done crying, I shake myself, wipe off my tears and come back to life... In the past, it used to be about work, work. But I have come to realise that work will come and go, but some things stay when the work is gone," she stated, emphasizing a shift toward mental well-being and self-care.

Originating in the 2008 Yoruba film Jenifa—which earned Akindele an Africa Movie Academy Award (AMAA)—the character evolved into a major pop-culture franchise spanning spin-off films and the long-running television series Jenifa's Diary.