In a candid interview with Sowetan LIVE, South African rapper Kwesta, real name Senzo Vilakazi, revealed how he almost turned down the opportunity to star in the upcoming Netflix film Piano Love. Renowned for his lyrical prowess, Kwesta initially hesitated to transition from music to acting, fearing he wouldn’t do justice to the craft. “The idea of acting has always been there. I’d always tell my friends, ‘Yazi one day, I’d like to try out acting’, but it wasn’t something I’d follow through,” Kwesta admitted. His respect for the art of acting led him to initially decline the offer from acclaimed filmmaker Mandla N, who had envisioned Kwesta in the lead role.
Kwesta’s apprehension stemmed from his reverence for acting as a discipline. “I respect the art and the craft immensely and I wouldn’t want to disrespect it. This is why I initially said ‘no’ to Mandla when he called and told me about the script,” he shared. However, Mandla N was persistent. A few days later, he invited Kwesta to his office and painted a vivid picture of the film’s plot. Mandla’s passion was contagious, and Kwesta was soon convinced that he was the right person for the role. “He told me that I represent people from the hood very well as a musician, and he’d like me to translate all of that on screen. I eventually said, ‘Yes’ to the idea of acting.”
As Kwesta gears up for his acting debut, he reflects on the nerves and excitement that came with the new challenge. “I remember being very nervous for our first reading… I chose to be honest with everyone and told them I was scared and I didn’t know what I was doing,” he laughed. The rapper-turned-actor credited his fellow cast members for guiding him through the process, teaching him the nuances of acting—from using hand gestures and body language to expressing emotion.
While Kwesta remains tight-lipped about the film’s plot, he assures fans that Piano Love will be full of surprises. “If you’re just basing your conclusions from the poster, you’ll be shocked. There’s a lot of twists and turns,” he teased. He also highlighted the film’s focus on amapiano culture, noting that while his character isn’t a “typical piano guy,” there are clear parallels with his musical persona. “It’s not necessarily a romantic movie; it has elements of it but the narrative is completely different from what people think,” he hinted.
Piano Love is set to be released on Netflix on August 23, marking a significant milestone in Kwesta’s career as he steps into the world of acting—a journey he once only dreamed about.
