Online Reporter
FOR years, Prev Reddy has been a household name, largely thanks to the gown-wearing, sharp-tongued force of nature known as Aunty Shamilla.
But in 2026, Reddy is proving that man underneath has plenty more stories to tell.
In January, Reddy announced that he had signed a book deal with Pan Macmillan SA. The move wasn’t a departure from comedy, but a response to a personal plateau.
He describes the pivot as a “growth issue” born from a phase where he felt he had conquered his current space but still hungered for more.
Unlike his stand-up, which thrives on laughs and relatable punchlines, his upcoming memoir is described as a coming-of-age story that details his journey through the entertainment industry and personal growth.
“So much of my comedy has been about reflection of society and the things that we all find funny and the things that have happened to me that are relatable to everybody, and I think this book was an avenue where I didn’t have to necessarily aim to be relatable to anybody.
“I just needed to write the things that happened to me through my eyes and my experience. That’s the place it came from, rather than wanting my story to be told personally,” shares Reddy.
While the book’s title remains under wraps, its mission is transparent. Reddy wants to strip away the industry secrets and focus on the universal messiness of being human.
“I opted to keep it very singular in the sense that this is my experience without throwing names or secrets, and after reading the book, I want people to feel the way they would feel after leaving an ‘Aunty Shamilla’ show, which is that we are all the same.
“We are all flawed because we’re all laughing at the things that we do, and we understand that the things that we do can sometimes sound chaotic, problematic or extreme when we say it out loud, but we laugh about it, we make peace and move on.
“I am just hoping that when people read this book, they see themselves in it through whatever lens and they can see that you can be, even if you are different.”
This year also marks a significant homecoming for the star. After spending much of 2025 performing across the UK, Reddy is embracing a packed South African schedule that includes the book promotion, a national tour and a return to acting.
As a graduate of AFDA with a degree in film producing and scriptwriting, Reddy says that he is finally ready to merge his performance skills with his technical background.
He has already begun “toeing the line” in writers’ rooms, having served as a contributing writer on an upcoming Netflix show.
“I want to fully get into film and TV- making. I studied film production, and I got a degree in film production and scriptwriting. I think I am ready to go into that aspect of filmmaking, both behind and in front of the camera.
I’ve already started talking to people in the industry and sharing ideas.
“I was a contributing writer last year on a Netflix show that’s coming out later this year, which was nice as I got to get my toes in writing rooms, which is what I am planning and hoping to achieve in the next two years.”
Success at this level, however, has required a major internal shift from Reddy. — iolnews
