ACTOR Bheki Mkhwane has been blessed enough to get another gig a month after finishing The River.
He finished shooting on The River in May and three weeks ago, he received a call to star on e.tv's Nikiwe.
Bheki, who's also been on Isibaya on Uzalo, played Thumbeza Hlophe - the head of a criminal family on the 1Magic telenovela which is in its final season.
"We stopped filming on The River in May already because it's been cancelled. However, as a family, we're still on the show until the end of July. I had a great time on The River. What a great opportunity to be offered to play an African person and bring Africa into our story. Hlophe was very special to me and I made sure that I represent Africa.
"Even the clothes that he wore were a representation of the continent. I made sure to add that element to the character.
He made his debut as Mhlaba last week and he spoke to Daily Sun about how he bagged the gig.
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"They invited me to come in three weeks ago which was a Friday afternoon. I got a call from Thomas Gumede saying he needs to talk to me about something. When I asked what he needed, he said we'll talk when I get there.
"He basically said I should rescue him. They are trying to establish a KZN family. This is so they can also get more viewers in the province," he said.
The actor said Mhlaba is the father of MaDlamini, played by Neo Mothane.
"MaDlamini is studying with her brother in Joburg. She's also pregnant and in this dark relationship with this married man who's a tycoon. She struggles to tell the parents about her pregnancy, so she comes with her married boyfriend's bodyguard.
"My character is still relying on the writers because he's new. He didn't have a script even when I went on set. And as an actor, he's an interesting ark to unpack," he said.
