The upcoming film How to Ruin Diwali: Meet The Parents is set to premiere on Netflix on October 30. The movie follows the story of a character who accidentally exposes their future father-in-law's secret love affair. The film features a talented cast, including Rosemary Zimu-Mnguni, Kyle Clark, Sonia Mbele, Jailoshini Naidoo, Koobeshen Naidoo, Meshack Mavuso, Luthando "BU" Mthembu, and Denise Zimba.
Lead star Rosemary Zimu-Mnguni shared her experience of reading the script for the first time. At the time, she was four or five months postpartum and was eager to get back into acting. Despite initial doubts about her ability to perform comedy, Zimu-Mnguni was drawn to her character Mmabatho and saw the role as an opportunity to challenge herself.
For Kyle Clark, playing the role of Vashin in the film allowed him to reconnect with parts of his culture. Clark, who comes from a predominantly TV-presenter background, had to tone down his presenter finesse and tap into something more authentic. He aimed to avoid playing a stereotype and instead bring a real and relatable character to the screen.
Clark and Zimu-Mnguni's on-screen chemistry was evident from their first meeting. The two actors, who go way back, had a comfortable and natural dynamic, which made their casting as love interests in the film a perfect fit. They both felt excited and at ease when they found out they had landed the roles.
The film brings together African and Indian cultures, and the cast and crew were aware of the importance of getting it right. Zimu-Mnguni acknowledged that there were many things they didn't know about each other's cultures, but with the help of their directors, Johnny Barbuzano and Vivek Mehta, they were able to navigate any challenges and stay true to the story.
The cultural collision in the film adds to the chaos of Diwali, a festival that Clark describes as madness. The film's portrayal of an interracial love story set against the backdrop of Diwali celebrations brings a unique and entertaining perspective to the franchise. The actors drew inspiration from previous films in the How to Ruin franchise, including advice from Sive Mabuya, who starred in How to Ruin Love.
The lead stars hope that audiences will take away a deeper understanding and appreciation of South African culture and the importance of love and acceptance. Zimu-Mnguni wants viewers to see the colorful and fun side of South Africa, while Clark hopes to showcase the country's incredible talent and the beauty of different cultures coming together.
Key points
- The film features a talented South African cast, including Rosemary Zimu-Mnguni and Kyle Clark.
- The movie brings together African and Indian cultures in a comedy that explores the challenges and beauty of interracial relationships.
- The film premieres on Netflix on October 30, adding to the popular How to Ruin franchise.
