Munya to star in action flick

competitor, Sheila Kwamboka, in a potential blockbuster.
Munya, or simply the “Diamond Boy”, is to star in one of Zimbabwe’s action thrillers titled “The Gentleman” alongside the Kenyan beauty Sheila, who will play a cameo in the film.
Also part of the cast is South Africa’s Presley Chweneyagae, who starred in the Oscar Award-winning film Tsotsi.
He will be in Harare for the next two weeks shooting the early stages of the film and then later conduct workshops.
The film, which will be shot in South Africa and Zimbabwe, follows on the success of “Lobola”, a rivetting comedy/drama flick that stars the Diamond Boy as the lead actor.
However, according to the producers of “The Gentleman”, the film redefines what a gentleman should be but incorporates corruption, true love and deceit.
Two brothers are separated by life but are brought together by love.
The twin brothers – Tawana and Takunda – did not see eye to eye but when one of them falls on hard times they help each other, showing that blood is thicker than water.
The film is being co-produced by Rufaro Kaseke and Lilian Chidavaenzi while Joe Njagu is the director.
Perhaps what is interesting is that Diamond Boy plays double roles in the film and according to Kaseke “that is a twist as it is a challenge”.
“There is a lot of blood and make-up will be heavy on the production set and as for choreography we have hired a professional to train the actors.
“Zimbabwe needs commercial films and so we are bringing in Presley from Tsotsi and Sheila Kwamboka for a cameo role,” Kaseke said.
Asked how they managed to bring Munya and Sheila on the same set when they did not get along in the last season of Big Brother Africa, Kaseke said it was purely business.
“We have realised that filmmaking needs to be decentralised. So we have since conducted auditions at Amakhosi Theatre in Bulawayo and we managed to rope in Precious Makhuluma, who acted as Ntokozo in Amakorokoza.
She is a wonderful performer.
“Regarding the issue of Munya and Sheila we made sure that they do business together and since she is popular in Kenya we thought it would be good for marketing purposes in the East African country,” he said.
So far, rehearsals have started in earnest and it is hoped the film will be ready on July 29, the release date.
“We want to release the new film by July 29 so that it becomes a summer film. We understand schools will be closed and winter would be over and that’s a good time to unleash it.
“It would allow us time to produce two films in one year.
“This is because we learnt from the previous film that it is possible to release a film in six months. Since this is a a co-production with a South African company called PreDestined Pictures we will not have problems with acquiring marketing or shooting permits in that country,” he said.
Kaseke said the company will organise shooting permits as well as handle marketing and distribution of the film.