Mondli Makhoba gets candid about his lead role on The Wife S2

Will Mondli Makhoba prove to be “national hubby” in how he depicts his character, Nkosana Zulu on the critically acclaimed The Wife Season 2?

Well stay tuned as the KwaZulu Natal born actor steps into the lead male role as Nkosana, who finally reunites with the love of his life, Zandile (Khanyi Mbau) after he broke her out of jail at the end of Season 1.

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Everything you need to know about The Wife Season 2

The 43-year-old poet - who has performed on big stages around the globe - is the eldest son on Dudu Busani-Dube’s inspired fan favourite telenovela The Wife season 2.

Mondli has appeared in local and international productions such as Generations The Legacy, uZalo, Imbewu, eHostela, Easy Money, and Roots.

The latest installment of The Wife broke its first season record for the most first-day views on Showmax ever - with three times as many viewers after the first three episodes were released.

The Show is also back at the top of Twitter trends with some of the characters such as Zandile; Hlomu, Nkosana, and Qhawe all trending in the top 10.

Award-winning actress Khanyi Mbau recently praised her co-lead actor, saying he made his native Zulu sound romantic and sexy.

“It's the voice, man!! Have you heard that guy’s voice? Nkosana makes the Zulu language so romantic; he makes it sound like French."

As we always do at GQ HQ, we catch up with the actor to chat about his role as a caring father, big brother to his siblings, and a loving partner.

GQ: What has it been like working with Khanyi?

Mondli: Working with Khanyi has been great. She's very gifted and she just pulls you into that world where you are supposed to be. It’s magic. I cannot wait for our audience to see more of that because, yoh, it's great.

GQ: What’s changing in Season 2?

Mondli: Having Zandile back brings out another layer for Nkosana, where we see him soft, where we see him loving. That side of Nkosana that we didn't see in the first season.

It also makes us understand why he had to work so hard with his brothers all these years. Why the heists? Why everything else they were doing to save money? Zandile is the reason why.

The challenge now is how Zandile fits in. Over the years, as he was working on getting her out, he was subconsciously creating a system that works for him, with the hope that Zandile will fit in.

So now the question is: Will she fit in? Will she feel loved? Will he have time for her? Will she feel that she's got his attention? So let us wait and see.

The family is in a lot of trouble with regards to his brothers, so we also still have him as the glue of the family, trying to make everyone gel and stay focused.

GQ: Tell us more about the dynamic with the kids, Hlomu and Zandile? What does Nkosana feel would be the best possible outcome?

Mondli: Obviously, the kids love Hlomu. She's been there, helping them through everything, all the chaos that they have as a family.

But Nkosana wants his family together. He wants to see Zandile and their kids play.

He wants to see them gel as a family. He wishes and hopes that they love their biological mother more, that they have that bond that mothers and kids need to have.

GQ: How different is Mondli to Nkosana?

Mondli: There are similarities: Nkosana is the eldest at home; Mondli is as well. He's very protective of his family, which Mondli is too. So those similarities have helped a lot, and make it easier to play Nkosana.

But Nkosana carries a lot of anger that Mondli doesn't. Each and every day I have to come back and get out of character and leave Nkosana on the set, otherwise you’ll hear bad stories.

Yeah, he's complicated…

GQ: How did you prepare for Nkosana in Season 1?

Mondli: It's very hard when you start at the very beginning, when you're still trying to find the back story of the character, but once you've done that, it becomes part of you.

So, when I get on set, as I take off Mondli's clothes and put on Nkosana's clothes, that's the transformation. I start thinking like Nkosana. It starts there.

I'm a spiritual person. I know with these characters that we play; we are given to play. So, I go to a zone where I talk to Nkosana and ask him to play. So, I feel like I’ve met him.

GQ: Tell us a bit about the chemistry with other actors?

Mondli: The chemistry between the brothers, it’s amazing. We have that brotherly chemistry going on, which makes it easier for us when we are in front of the camera.