Popular Kumawood actor and musician 39/40 has opened up about his journey to stardom, revealing that his rise in the entertainment industry was no accident but a long-held dream.
Speaking in an interview on Ultimate FM, 39/40 shared that growing up in Kumasi, he always envisioned himself as a star, though he never imagined it would happen the way it did.
“I will say that it was a dream just like you are saying. It was something I wanted to do, but I never knew it would happen this way. Growing up, I told myself that by hook or crook, I have to become a star. Growing up, that has always been my thought. As for the talent, I have numerous talents,” he said.
How He Got the Name ‘39/40’
The actor recounted how he started shooting comedy skits, which eventually led to his breakthrough. He explained that during one of his early skits, he was assigned to play a limping character, and a fellow actor, Kasawale, who is now an evangelist, spontaneously gave him the name 39/40.
After the video was uploaded to YouTube, viewers flooded the comment section with praise for his acting skills, with many referring to him as 39/40. The name quickly gained traction, and after discussions with Dr. Likee and others, he decided to adopt it as his official stage name.
A Rising Star in Kumasi
Since embracing the name 39/40, the actor has seen tremendous growth in his career, cementing his place as one of Kumasi’s most celebrated actors. He credits the name and his dedication to his craft for his success.
“I got that name from a movie shoot. At Dr. Likee’s camp, we were shooting a movie, and I was to act like a limp just like you said. So, the name just came from one lady—today, she is even an evangelist. The moment I entered the scene, she said, ‘As for this one, it is Muntala 39/40.’ Almost every comment was about 39/40. This was about four years ago,” he shared.