All systems go for up-and-coming actor
DURBAN actor Zahir Bassa can be seen as businessman, Richard Davis, in SABC’s daily telenova, Uzalo, but he was not always keen on being in front of the camera.
The 29-year-old, who became a national hit during his performance as undercover CIA hacker Qadir in the popular show, Homeland, ultimately wanted to be a film director, but was bitten by the acting bug last year.
Bassa has his hands full in between shooting on the Uzalo set in KwaMashu, and juggling being a videographer, photographer and voice-over artist.
But, he loves it so much that he doesn’t mind juggling everything.
“Acting and film-making have always been a passion of mine. It was only when I starred in a short film called Himmat, where I played the character Yesthiel, that I knew acting was something I wanted to do.
“My overall dream is to help build the film industry in Durban. I want to get together with as many people who share the same passion of acting and filmmaking like I do,” he said.
Bassa says he wants to attract Hollywood and Bollywood producers to our shores to show them the city’s talent.
A typical day on set starts at 5am, says Bassa, when Tribune Herald spoke to him this week.
“The whole process is incredible as the personnel can range from 50 to 100 people who are all given specific tasks to make the project a success. The whole process gives me respect for the craft as well as the people who work 14-hour days to make sure the scenes are done on time,” said Bassa. He is having fun on the set Uzalo. The actor says “everyone is like family on set. Everyone works in harmony and helps each other to make things run smoothly”.
He is also shooting Ashan Singh’s Dear Jasmine, a Durban-produced action thriller in which he plays Prashant.
Bassa is working on several scripts that he hopes to bring into production soon.
When he is not on set, he enjoys being in the kitchen where he cooks healthy meals in relation to his lifestyle and diet. He says he finds cooking therapeutic.
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Bassa would one day like to work alongside Daniel DayLewis and Leonardo DiCaprio.
His advice to aspiring actors is to work hard. He says an actor should constantly push himself to want to excel. He also suggests and attending acting classes.