Nollywood actress Bunmi Nelson has admitted she underestimated Funke Akindele’s potential early in her career, saying she regrets not taking advantage of opportunities the actress offered her.

Nelson made the revelation during an interview with actress Biola Adebayo on the Talk to B podcast, where she reflected on their relationship and the lessons she has learned over the years.

She said Akindele approached her in 2006 while looking for a house to use as a film location, but she failed to maintain the relationship despite Akindele’s repeated efforts to keep in touch.

“If I knew Funke would go far like this, I would have held her tight,” Nelson said.

According to her, Akindele regularly called and encouraged her to become more involved in the Yoruba movie industry, but she often ignored the calls.

“The mistake I made was that she would call me and I would ignore her. I had every opportunity when Funke was reaching out to me because the industry was not as crowded as it is today,” she said.

Nelson said missing that opportunity in 2006 and 2007 remains one of her biggest regrets in the entertainment industry.

She used the experience to caution people against looking down on others or underestimating their future potential.

“In life, don’t underestimate anyone. Don’t look down on anyone except when you’re admiring their shoelaces,” she said.

The actress added that the experience taught her the value of humility, saying life had shown her that circumstances can change and that nothing remains the same forever.