Johannesburg - There are a few things that come
to mind when you hear Siv Ngesi’s
name.
A comedian, MC and presenter
– with Man Cave and Wingin’ It a hit
with audiences – he’s also an actor.
In a nutshell, he is a master of
many trades. And he is a fearless voice
on social media, too.
He pointed out: “Authenticity
is what I live by. There’s nothing
online that isn’t authentic. Too much
stuff is fake out there. I try to keep
to myself, I try to fight injustice as
much as possible and I try to be
truthful to what I believe in and what
my mother taught me. That’s what I
try every day. If that means the odd
debate, swear word and argument
here and there, bring it on.”
Despite a very manic work
schedule and several other projects
in the pipeline, Ngesi took a break
to chat about his upcoming projects,
which have taken him out of his
comfort zone.
He said: “Still Breathing is a
star-studded, roller-coaster ride of
incredible emotions. It was really
incredible working with a calibre of
actors and actresses that I respect.”
On the script, he added, “It’s
authentic characters dealing with
grief, happiness, family; just everyday
life. And I think that everyone who
is watching will relate to one of the
characters, if not all the characters.”
This series, which is directed by
Johnny Barbuzano and created by his
co-producer wife, Tiffany, ticks many
boxes. It covers everything from love,
friendship, complicated relationships,
betrayal and long-kept secrets
between a circle of former friends,
who are reunited by a tragedy.
The cast includes Kate Liquorish,
Lorcia Khumalo, Shannon Esra, Ty
Keogh and Jane de Wet.
Of his character, T-Boss, Ngesi
revealed: “It is a dream character for
me. He is a multi-layered onion of
a man, who is in a very interesting
space in his life. A father of two, a
husband and a doctor, he is also the
son of a domestic worker and what
comes with that is the question of
identity.”
The TV series is releasing in
February along with his two movies, "Knuckle City" and "Bhai’s Café". Talk
about a happy coincidence.
In "Knuckle City", which was South
Africa’s official submission for Best
International Feature Film at this
year’s Oscars, he plays Goatee.
Ngesi surprised many fans and
industry colleagues with his fluent
Xhosa in the movie, which has been
playing at various festivals.
He said: “I am fluent in Xhosa. I
am Xhosa. I’m from Gugulethu. Both
my parents are Xhosa. Many people
don’t know that, which blows my
mind.
But I haven’t worked much
in Xhosa. I think that is why people
have not known that I am Xhosa.
But I have another TV show that I’m
working on that is Xhosa and it is
coming out shortly.”
It wasn’t too difficult slipping into
character.
“I’ve been boxing for about 7 to
8 years now. When I heard that I’m
going to be in 'Knuckle City', well, I
have always wanted to do a boxing
movie.
I’ve always wanted to train
for a film and have my Rocky Balboa
moment. When we were growing
up there was no such thing as Creed.
No one looked like us on TV, who
was boxing. We weren’t represented
in these films. So when I found out,
I started gyming even harder. My
character is an egotistical, in-your-face
boxer,” he shared.
Getting to work with a director
like Jahmil XT Qubeka has been a
memorable experience for him.
He confirmed: “It’s the first
time I’m working with him but it’s
definitely not my last. He is a genius.
Even at the Toronto International
Film Festival people were talking
about him as the next big thing in
the film industry, internationally. You
always know South Africans only click
when the world clicks about a South
African talent. I have a feeling he is
going to be bigger overseas than he is
in South Africa.”
He laughed: “I wish every role
would take me out of my comfort
zone. I think the cool thing about the
three projects that are coming out is
that they really, really bring me out
of my comfort zone. I don’t think I’ve
ever had such eclectic work as I have
in the month coming up.”
As for "Bhai’s Café", Ngesi said: “I
had to learn how to sing in Hindi
as I recorded a Hindi song. Initially,
they were going to get someone else
to record it and have me mouth
the words. I was like, ‘Not a flippin’
chance, I will learn it and I will do it’.
Give me a challenge and I will take
it on. And I had to go to Bollywood
dance lessons, which I did.”
Although this movie is a rom-com,
Ngesi doesn’t get to flex his comedic
muscles.
He offered, “Everyone else does
funny. I am the serious one. My
character has a very pinnacle role. It’s
all about gentrification and how it’s
affecting everyone. It’s a conversation
that needs to be had.”
By the end of next month, Ngesi’s
acting prowess should be the talk of
the town.
Still Breathing airs on M-Net
(DStv channel 101) on Thursday,
February 27 at 8pm. Bhai’s Cafe opens
on the big screen on February 14 and
Knuckle City on February 28.