Inxeba: The Wound actor Bongile Mantsai – who scooped a South African Film and Television Award for his starring role in the controversial film – will make his debut on e.tv’s Scandal! next week.
Mantsai takes on the role of Mthunzi in the drama series.
Apart from Inxeba: The Wound Mantsai has appeared in several other film productions, including Mzantsi series Nkululeko and feature films Sew the Winter to my Skin and Cold Harbour.
Despite his 15 years working in the theatre environment, Mantsai said he was learning a lot from the Scandal team.
Mantsai was an artistic director at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town for the past eight years.
It was during this time at the Baxter that he landed the role of Vija on Inxeba: The Wound.“When I first got the role I was a bit hesitant because I was doing a lot of travelling. I auditioned the first time around and they like me but then I went to Paris to work.
“When I came back a friend of mine told me about auditions he was going to. It was for Inxeba but now it was also called The Wound.
“I didn’t think it was the same movie I had auditioned for about a year ago but one of the people in the production team said they remembered me, although I didn’t.
“Long story short, they called John, the director, and told him about me.
“He asked if I was available for the movie and I said ‘yes’”.
He flew to Johannesburg and spent a week there with some of the actors. “When I took the role I was interested in telling Vija and Xolani’s love story. It was never about the culture whatsoever,” he said.
However, that is not how some people, especially traditional leaders, received the movie.
“I remember when the movie came out and there was a lot of talk around it. I had to stop doing workshops in the townships of Cape Town and I came to Johannesburg for a month. I won’t lie, that was a depressing period for me because I couldn’t do any work.
“People were sending me messages saying that I was a sellout,” he said.
It was during his time in Johannesburg that he received a call about Scandal! auditions.
“I went for the audition and I got the role but I was still not sure about leaving my job at the Baxter, and also I was scared of television, because of how I had been treated during the release of Inxeba.
“I consulted family, friends and colleagues, and they all agreed that it was my time and I should take the role,” he said.
Since joining the Scandal! team, Mantsai said, it has been a learning journey.
“They have taught me so much, and I am open to learning all there is to know about television. I don’t want to focus only on acting but have an interest in directing as well,” he said.
He said his character, Mthunzi, was charismatic and charming.
Mthunzi is the son of Dambisa Maduna, who is a domestic worker for the Langa family.
“Inxeba has opened doors for me. I am busy training now for a boxing movie that we will be shooting in East London later in the year.”
Catch Mantsai from next Monday onwards on Scandal! at 7.30pm on e.tv. —
poliswap@dispatch.co.za..