Actress and filmmaker, Peju Johnson, has explained why she deliberately keeps aspects of her personal life, particularly her relationships and family matters, away from public scrutiny.
In an interview with Saturday Beats, Johnson said being a public figure did not mean every aspect of her life had to be open to public discussion.
She said, “I have deliberately kept certain aspects of my personal life, especially my private relationships, family matters, and emotional struggles, away from the public. I believe that being a public figure does not mean every part of one’s life has to be open for public discussion. My career allows people to see me on their screens, but there is also a side of me that deserves peace, privacy, and room to grow without public opinions influencing every decision.”
Johnson also spoke about the pressure celebrities face to meet fans’ expectations, noting that while she valued their support, she had learnt not to live her life solely to please others.
“I appreciate my fans deeply, and their support means a lot to me. However, I have learnt that I cannot satisfy everybody. My responsibility is to keep improving my craft and give my best to the people who support my work. I believe you can appreciate your audience without losing yourself in their expectations,” she said.
The filmmaker also addressed criticism of her movies, particularly comments about her tendency to produce romantic stories.
She said, “Some people have criticised me for producing a lot of love stories, but I believe every filmmaker has a style and a way of telling stories that connect with them. Romance is one of the genres I enjoy exploring, and I don’t think there is anything wrong with telling stories about love and relationships because they are a part of everyday life.
“I don’t see criticism as a reason to doubt my vision; rather, I take what is constructive from it and keep learning. One cannot please everybody, and I believe that as long as one is passionate about one’s work and committed to improving, one should not allow people’s opinions to discourage one from doing what one loves.”