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Firefighter-turned-actor Abdul Khoza won the second season of Class Act in 2011 and now he has a starring role on Intersexions 2, as rising soccer star Two Step. He also has a guest role on the drama series Tempy Pushas.

When I saw that he's landing TV roles I decided that it's the perfect time to find out what's he been up to between winning Class Act and now. Has he had to put out fires? Did all of the promised reality prizes materialise?
 
I caught up with him for us to find out ...

Tashi: What's life been like since you won Class Act?
Abdul: Life's definitely changed, that I can confirm. It's changed in so many ways. Work wise, I sort of had a schedule and now I'm having to be more flexible - working between productions and stuff. There's also the love and support which has been really awesome, when people come up to you and want to know what's going on.


Tashi: Did all of your Class Act prizes materialise?
Abdul: Yes, everything that was mentioned has happened. We went to the New York Film Academy, which was another awesome experience, and we did the Amstel ad and we still have a movie. We're actually part of Sdumo Mtshali's movie that's yet to come.

Tashi: Yes I see there's a Donovan Marsh movie called iNumber iNumber with Sdumo - what's that? Is that part of the prize?
Abdul: It's not part of our prize - it was the Season 1 winner's prize and we were fortunate enough to be part of it.

Tashi: So you're still waiting for your movie?
Abdul: Yes, yes, our movie is yet to come.

Tashi: Is Moonyeenn Lee your agent as well? (also part of the prize)
Abdul: Yes, yes.

Tashi: So all the prizes really did materialise ... often with reality shows they don't.
Abdul: Yes, I've heard a lot of that.


Tashi: What did you do between winning the show and filming Intersexions? Did you stop being a firefighter? Was there a time when you were unemployed?
Abdul: After Class Act I went back to being a firefighter for another full year. I only came to Jo'burg last year August. I needed to take it in - I still had things to plan ahead because of understanding that things might change financially. Also, to just be grateful to my department - it was the only way I could say "Thank you,".

Tashi: Do you miss being a firefighter?
Abdul: There are definitely days when the siren will turn me on the road and I'll feel like chasing. But ja no, I'm really settled, I've moved on.


Tashi: When you moved to Jo'burg, did you already have the role in Intersexions or did you go there seeking your fortune?
Abdul: Definitely, I moved here before any work - I just needed to be around Jo'burg. It took a month, if not two to get the role on Intersexions. It was a journey.

Tashi: The New York Film Academy - what was it like? Is it all it's cracked up to be?
Abdul: I really didn't know much about it so my expectations weren't anything and what I received blew my mind. We learnt so much to do with filmmaking and met people who are in the industry in Hollywood - people who've worked with big names in the industry.

I took part in a couple of student movies, a total of nine movies - New York was an awesome experience, being there, out there, in that world, needing to survive as a student and also being able to maintain a daily lifestyle - it was beautiful.


Tashi: What was the biggest acting tip that you learnt?
Abdul: Always, always allow your character to live, give them life, as in don't, don't, don't judge your character because at the end of the day you never play yourself.

It doesn't matter what the character does, it doesn't matter how it looks towards your religion maybe, or your lifestyle - the main thing is to understand that that is what the character does.


Tashi: Tumie, what's she up to?
Abdul: She plays one of the lead ladies in Tempy Pushas.(She plays Princess Zembe). She was also involved in iNumber iNumber with me. It's been amazing for us to seriously start the craft after going through the competition.

Going back to work as a firefighter for another year, it was something that I did but I always had people asking me: "We voted for you so what's happening now?" I really understood that it would have been sad for me not to give the opportunity a shot because I'm so grateful for the opportunity.

Tashi: Was there a time when you thought you might not pursue it?
Abdul: There was a lot I had to go through and think about - I always had those questions of: "Do reality shows really live up to what they're supposed to be? Am I getting punked here? What's gonna happen? Should I leave something that's major in my life for something that might not happen?" I had questions but I took a leap of faith.

Tashi: Do you stay in touch with anyone from Class Act, besides Tumie?
Abdul: I stay in touch with a lot of people from the people involved at the production house to all my Top 10, to people in the queues. I still have people back home who I got to know from the audition queue in Durban. With things like Facebook and Twitter it's really easy to reach people.


Tashi: Who's become your best friend out of the whole experience?
Abdul: I made best friends with a lot of them - with all of the Top 10. The people I hang out with most are Tumie and Pallance Dladla. Tumie and I have ... our relationship, you can understand, we obviously had to go and survive New York on our own and ever since we've just been supportive of each other and our relationship has grown.

Going through so much together, staying in Jo'burg and starting working, spending so much time together - it's really made it easier for us. It really would be hard to act such a relationship in terms of understanding each other so it'll be easy for us to work on our movie together.

Tashi: Is there a romantic connection between you?
Abdul: I have a very romantic feel around women because I'm a sucker for love but it's just a good friendship that we share.

Tashi: So we shouldn't look out for dating pictures of you - or should we??
Abdul: No, no, no, you shouldn't look out for dating pictures of us, we're, you know, very close.

Tashi: Are you single? Are you dating?
Abdul: Let's just say there's place for someone but I'm happy right now.

Tashi: Can you tell us something about yourself that no-one else knows?
Abdul: I don't know if people are aware that I'm actually a bike rider.

Tashi: A Harley-Davidson?
Abdul: No, I love superbikes - I'm on my third bike - it's an R60 Yamaha.


Tashi: Do you race?
Abdul: Ja, I'm really good at it as well as having times when I've hit the tar very hard. It comes with the territory but I'm very much in love with bikes. There's something else that's gonna surprise you ... I'm planning to release a single.

I've been in the studio working on it - it's more or less trying to reach out to people to let them know that I'm still working. Don't think that I've given up. It's a matter of me being able to talk those people who've been curious about what's going on and what I've been up to.

Tashi: Where will iNumber be on?
Abdul: It'll be on at cinemas - maybe later on this year.

Tashi: Who's your all time favourite South African actor?
Abdul: Oh man, I've looked up to so many people ... but Vusi Kunene and Fana Mokoena really stand out for me.

Tashi: And internationals?
Abdul: I really admire Leonardo DiCaprio - he's a most amazing actor. From such a young age he's just always been on point so it has to be him.

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