‘ I can’t stop for every dog that barks!’

Mohale talks ‘ Rhythm City’, plans for a talk show and playing a straight guy

MOHALE Motaung- Mhlongo joined e. tv’s popular soapie, Rhythm City albeit for a brief stint recently. His last screen appearance was last Thursday.

Of course, given his high- profile relationship with Somizi MhlongoMotaung, the news got a lot of traction on social media. By now, he is used to the attention, not to mention the trolling.

But Motaung- Mhlongo maintains his steely determination to carve his own successes in the industry, too.

In a recent chat, he commented: “Some things you can’t control as a person. I think it’s something that I’ve experienced for quite some time now. And because of that, when it happens now, it doesn’t move me.

“I believe people are allowed to have their own opinions about whatever but it doesn’t now mean that I shouldn’t pursue opportunities or gigs simply because people don’t think I’m deserving.

“I’ve just decided that I’m going to work, lead my life and do what I have to do because, really, I can’t stop for every dog that barks!

“I need to keep it moving. I need to do my work and, for as long as the people I’m working for or working with are happy and I’m happy – that’s all that matters.

I mean, the producers at Rhythm City are happy. The directors are happy. So if they are happy, then I’m good. I don’t want to explain myself to anyone else.”

Cast as Kudzo, he was introduced into the story arc as the suave head of sponsorship for a big cellphone company. However, it was all a ruse choreographed by Pearl ( the late David Genaro’s daughter, played by Petronella Tshuma), who has a score to settle with Suffocate ( Mduduzi Mabaso).

Peeling back the layers of his character, Motaung- Mhlongo said: “So firstly, he’s a businessman. He’s into very big and bold business moves. He likes everything to go his way. He’s not a person who’s very patient with other people giving opinions about business, about him.

“He’s also a very confident person who enjoys living larger than life. But one thing about him is that when things don’t go his way, he really gets very angry.

“Other than that, he’s a nice guy. He’s rich, he just goes about sponsoring people’s lifestyles.”

Given his own way of life, it wasn’t much of a stretch to dabble in the world of the wealthy.

He laughed: “Ja, definitely. I could say that it wasn’t very farfetched from my original lifestyle.”

Shared similarities with his character aside, exploring a scripted part was no walk in the park for the reality TV star, who has acclimated to being in front of the camera in Somizi and Mohale: The Union and Dinner at Somizi’s.

Motaung- Mhlongo added: “It was a natural progression even though it’s not as easy. There’s much difference between reality TV and acting. With the former, there’s not much for you to do because they just want you as a natural person.

“Acting goes a lot more into your character and the kind of person that you are trying to portray – it’s really stepping out from Mohale and portraying Kutzo.”

By the way, he also appeared in season two of MTV’S Shuga.

On getting working with a veteran like Mabaso, he said: “I was thinking I was going to be a bit intimidated, he’s got years of experience. But working with him has been the most amazing thing.

“I did most of my lines in sesotho for the venac part of it, and even though he speaks Zulu in most of his lines, he decided to speak sesotho to make me comfortable and to make sure I understand what we are doing.”

As for the possibility of him returning, he offered: “They asked about my availability in November/ December/ January and February because they had a writers’ meeting. I think they’re working on bringing the character back. So keeping those fingers crossed.”

Looking at the future, he added: “I’m building a platform called ‘ Let’s talk with Mohale’. “I realise I really enjoy talking to people and I’ve got a particular style in interviewing people, a skill I never thought I had. It’s already in the pipeline.”

Now that he’s been properly bitten by the acting bug, he added: “I’ve been saying that if I can get a role as a straight guy, it would really challenge me to step out of my comfort zone.”

And he’s got his eye out for a part on too.