Zamani Mbhatha showed great potential as a soccer player at school, but the acting bug was just too strong and he dumped the beautiful game for acting. He got his first gig as a TV actor just after completing his matric and never looked back.
Zamani, the younger brother of acclaimed actor Nomzamo Mbatha, cut his teeth in acting after he landed a co-lead role in Mzansi Magic telenovela Isithembiso.
Zamani shares his fascinating journey with TimeOut and he's itching for more acting roles to prove his talent as an actor.
The 23-year-old tried his luck in acting after seeing an advert for Isithembiso and landed the role of Zamani in 2017.
Lacking experience, Zamani was thrown into the deep end, co-leading the storyline with celebrated Hamilton Dhlamini and Nandi Mbatha.
Though it was his first acting gig, Zamani handled the role like a true professional while having girls drooling over him. Isithembiso was flighted on Mzansi Magic from 2017 to 2020. Mbatha later landed roles on the now-defunct Rhythm City and Jiva!
This year, Mbatha plays the lead role on season two of drama series Is'phindiselelo that will be flighted on the eVOD platform from January 20.
“I got the role in Isithembiso right after finishing matric. It was just after few days after getting my results. I was still chilling and it was on my friend’s birthday that we saw [the advert for] auditions. At high school I played soccer and I was good at it but I started to develop an interest in acting when I was doing Grade 12. I tried my luck and I got the role in Isithembiso.
“I mean, I got the job right after school and I can never thank God enough for that. I thought I could play soccer and act but I realised that it would not work. I dumped soccer because the acting bug was just too strong,” he says.
Zamani plays the role of Benny in Is'phindiselelo, a young man who found himself in jail serving 12 years after mixing with the wrong people. In the first season, Benny wanted to kill Vusumuzi, who put him in jail but he opted to make the man suffer before dying. In season two, Benny tries to reinvent himself as an investor and entrepreneur.
“Benny is smart, a genius, patient... As much as he is seeking vengeance, his goal is not only to expose Vusumuzi, as a criminal, but to totally and utterly destroy him and everything he holds dear. With this in mind, Benny plans to sabotage the company his father once built and he starts a series of attacks on the construction empire, all the while getting closer and closer to the Nkosi family. Benny’s need for revenge is blurred by his growing desire to have a relationship of trust and love with Kethiwe and his thirst for revenge. Ultimately, he is forced to choose between the possibility of real love vs his desire for revenge,” Zamani says.
Zamani says playing Benny awakened something in him. Born and raised in KwaMashu in Durban, the emerging actor has enjoyed playing the character of Benny in both seasons. He acts alongside Israel Matseke-Zulu, Zikhona Bali, Robert Whitehead, Lindani Mkhize and Ndumiso Nyovane, among others.
“Honestly, I never thought I had a power to anchor a show and be the lead at the same time. I never thought I could carry a storyline like that. Now that I know I am capable of doing that it makes me believe more in myself. It took so much in me because it was hectic when we were shooting but it was worth it.”
Zamani, who came into the industry when his sister Nomzamo’s career was taking off, says joining the same industry as his sister did not put him under pressure. He has made it clear that his success is as a result of his talent.
“I have said this from the first time coming into this industry, that I did not come through my sister or being assisted by her. I am here because of my own talent and ambition and she is here on her own journey doing her own thing. I normally don’t put myself under pressure because I am a very patient person and I take time with myself.”
Zamani is enjoying himself because everything is falling into place for him. He has shot his first film but does not know when it will be flighted. His is hungry for more roles that will challenge him to grow. He wants to venture into comedy, directing, learn more about production and to act in other telenovelas.
“Last year, I auditioned for many roles and I hope something will come out of that. I never thought I will be in the position that I am in right now. You look at how hard we work and wonder if it is worth it. Sometimes we get scared to take a break, that we might drop momentum. I would like another role in a telenovela or soapie because the first role I got I was fairly young. I would like a chance to do better than in Isithembiso,” he says.
Fact File
Favourite food: Braai meat and Italian cuisine
Favourite holiday destination: Cape Town
Favourite actor: Jamie Foxx
Favourite show: Peaky Blinders
Favourite music: Gqom
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