His character in The River is always going through the most, but actor Lunga Mofokeng says Andile Dikana has certainly grown over the last five seasons.
Andile has been through so much, including trying to commit suicide after his family tried to force him to marry a woman even though he is gay. He even spent some time in police custody after he was framed for murder.
With the current storyline, Andile has been kidnapped and is on a boat in international waters. His parents Lindiwe Dlamini Dikana and top cop Zweli Dikana, played by Sindi Dlathu and Hlomla Dandala respectively, are frantically looking for him.
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“I think he is the softest and most vulnerable family member. He is too soft for Lindiwe and he is just the perfect son for Zweli.
“Over the years we have seen him struggle to separate himself from the family and being his own man. The family issues and drama always seem to drag him in. But he has grown. It took him a very long time to be able to stand up to his family and have his own voice, but now he does,” Lunga says.
“Even know with the kidnapping, he questions why he was the target.”
He has no issues playing the character of a gay man even though he is straight.
“I do not see what the issue is. Anyone who plays a gay character would have had to audition for it and must have known even at that stage. If you are a true thespian, you just jump into the character. I have an open mind and I go where the character needs to go, without Lunga.”
He adds that wardrobe helps him get into character too.
“For me, the moment I put the clothes I get into character. I personally prefer relaxed clothes like sweatpants, so as soon as I wear Andile’s suits and they are so tight, I know what to do. Also, nobody has issues with me liking women, why then should they have a problem with Andile liking men.”
Lunga says he does not even believe straight men need to feel secure in their manhood or sexuality before going to play gay characters.
“I do not understand what the big deal is. If I am an actor married to the same woman for 20 years, then one day I fall in love with a female costar, the conversation would be about me falling for someone else. But if I fall in love with a man, it would be a different conversation about sexuality instead of me falling someone else.”
In real life, Lunga is seeing someone.
“I do not believe in secrecy and hiding, but I do believe in protecting those you care about. So when the time is right people, will see who it is.”
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In his private life Lunga has quite the following on TikTok because of funny videos he makes, but he does not consider himself funny.
“I think it is part of being an entertainer that I am able to do that. If you were to sit with me for a couple of hours you probably do not laugh as much as you do when you watch those videos. So I think its just being an entertainer.
“Growing up, I was never really that outgoing child that liked to be looked at and seen. I was not necessarily quiet either, but I was always calm and chilled. I then later got into the arts and I realized that it was okay to be foolish sometimes. I do not necessarily think I am funny, but I do believe ndinayo la way (I have that thing)."
