Zolisa Xaluva Reflects on Life After Generations and the Importance of Mental Health

Popular South African actor Zolisa Xaluva recently shared an honest look into his life and career in an interview on the Inside Story podcast. The 44-year-old actor, who has starred in big shows like Gomora, Kings of Joburg, and Generations, said leaving Generations was the hardest moment of his professional journey.

Zolisa began the chat by appreciating how far the local TV industry has come since he first started acting.

“I’m happy with how far we have come. When I arrived, if you were in a drama series, you were lucky and if you were in a soapie, especially Generations, you’d have made it, and it was either going to make or break you,” he explained.

Even though Generations was a well-known and powerful show, leaving it came with unexpected challenges. “I had been there twice before and left. I knew what it was like to be on it and how lonely it would be when you are off it,” Zolisa said.

He explained that once you’ve played a popular character, it can be hard to escape that image. “Other directors, producers also see you like the character, so you kind of want to stay there rather because outside of that was not much to do,” he added.

After stepping away from the show, Zolisa said the industry began to change. New shows were launching and becoming popular, and the rise of streaming services opened more doors for actors.

“We left at a time where certain shows were emerging, and they were picking up momentum. Since then, all the streaming services have opened up the field, which is good,” he said.

Even during that difficult time, Zolisa stayed grounded by focusing on his goals and values. He also highlighted the importance of looking after his mental health. “I’m a firm believer in positive thinking, and I’ve trained myself so well that I don’t worry. I stop worrying about things. I do worry but I remind myself that I shouldn’t,” he shared.

He also spoke about his daily routine to stay calm and focused: “I like to meditate. I count from a hundred to one before I open my eyes. Sometimes I forget, but I like to do that. I don’t know what it does, but it centres me.”