‘Zandile, The Resolute’: Khanyi Mbau set to light up ‘The Wife’ on Showmax

When it was announced that Dudu Busani-Dube’s book series was getting adapted into a TV show, it was confirmed that The Wife on Showmax would borrow its inspiration from the first three books in the series – Hlomu, The Wife, Zandile, The Resolute and Naledi, His Love.

Thus far, The Wife on Showmax has followed the beginnings of the relationship between Mqhele (Bonko Khoza) and Hlomu (Mbalenhle Mavimbela) but the focus of the story will soon change and focus on the show’s new cast member, Khanyi Mbau.

Mbau will play Zandile and will come on board as Nkosana’s (Mondli Makhoba’s) love-interest-turned-wife.

Fans of the hit show, which has topped Twitter trends every Thursday since its launch, will get their first glimpse of Khanyi as Zandile in Thursday’s episodes.

“While she does feature again – and more prominently – in season two, Khanyi Mbau takes centre stage in season two, which premieres on Showmax in February 2022, and will be inspired by Dudu Busani-Dube’s bestselling novel Zandile, The Resolute,” explained Showmax in a statement.

“Season two is told through the eyes of uZandile,” said Stained Glass showrunner Gugu Ncube-Zuma.

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“We’ll be exploring Nkosana and Zandile’s love story and finding out more about their history. We’ll get to know Zandile as the matriarch of the Zulu family, the glue who held the Zulu brothers together. In season two, she wants to reclaim her position, a role that uHlomu has now taken over in her absence. Get ready to see the world through Zandile’s eyes.”

Due to the fact that fans of The Wife were initially resistant and unhappy with the casting announcements of Hlomu and the Zulu brothers, Khanyi admits she’s understandably daunted by the role.

“The greatest challenge for an actress is being a part of a story that everyone knows,” said Khanyi.

“That brings a lot of expectations that you need to live up to. There’s a cult around this show so there’s a lot of pressure. And before being part of the cast, I am a fan, so I really don’t want to drop the ball. For me to depict this character is really something that can either make me or break me, to be quite honest with you, but I love the thrill.”

However, Gugu is confident that Khanyi is perfectly cast in her role as Zandile on The Wife on Showmax.

“Khanyi Mbau is talented and had the range so necessary for this role,” she says.

“She has depth and rawness; she’s able to tap into the dark side that Zandile has, as well as give that vulnerability that we’ll see, especially with the love between her and Nkosana. As a production team, we’ve worked with her before, and we know she’ll bring that grit that is needed for the character of Zandile.”

The Wife on Showmax opened to rave reviews in November 2021, breaking both Uthando Lodumo’s first-day and Devilsdorp’s four-day Showmax viewing records in the process.

Click here to binge the first 15 episodes of The Wife on Showmax now, with new episodes added every Thursday at 5am.