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Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje takes it from the ’hood to Bollywood in his latest movie roles

It might not roll off the tongue, but before long you will memorize the name Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. Best known for his role as Adebisi on HBO’s Oz, Akinnuoye-Agbaje is making serious moves. In November, he plays 50 Cent’s father in a little movie called Get Rich Or Die Tryin’. Also this fall, he’s going Bollywood in Mistress Of Spices and joining ABC’s hit TV show Lost.

Complex: Was it hard working with 50 Cent, someone who’s never acted before?

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje: Initially it was, because 50 comes from the gangsta world where you don’t really show your emotions, and he was entering a world where it’s all about feeling your emotions. So I think that transition was initially quite overwhelming, but once we got there he was cool.

Get Rich’s director, Jim Sheridan, is a 50-something guy from Ireland. He seems like an odd choice to direct the movie.

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje: The street is the street, no matter where you’re from. And Jim’s from the street, albeit one in Dublin. I think Jim and 50 had more in common than they had differences because of that upbringing. But yeah, my impression at first was “What the fuck?” I joined the project simply because of Jim’s track record. Two films that he’s done are on my all-time greats, My Left Foot and In The Name Of The Father. And when I saw him and 50 together, I realized they both have integrity.

What drew you to Mistress Of Spices?

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje: It’s not an intense part at all. It’s very different, very passive. I’ve always wanted to do a Bollywood film. I love that singing and dancing, the whole big production. I’d love to break out into song in the middle of the street.

You’re singing in the movie?

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje: No! But I figured it would be a good way to access their industry. It took me a while to get used to it-number one, everybody was speaking Hindi, so the director of photography will be giving all these instructions, and I was like, “What the fuck did he just say?” After the second or third day I got a few words right, so I was grooving, but at first, man...

Can you reveal anything about Emeka, your character on Lost?

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje: I can’t. They’ll fucking kill me. I’ve done cable before, but network TV, they will rip your guts out. And the thing is, you’re gonna see that shit all over the Web in two seconds, and it ain’t me-I’ll never say shit. But someone’s talking. All I can say is I gotta grow my beard and my hair for a fucking year, I gotta lose weight, and I’m mysterious. And there you go, that’s all I can say.

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