Like Romeo and Juliet, theirs is a forbidden love. Will their love triumph or end tragically? We chat to actress Fulu Mugovani about her love for Lerumo.
Her character is very quirky. She’s sweet, truthful, and very honest. She’s a princess back in her village in Venda and she’s in-love with a commoner. Naturally her father is not pleased that his only daughter is dating someone who is not of the right calibre.
Chief Muneri came all the way to Joburg to tell his daughter that she’s defying tradition by having a relationship with Lerumo. Her place is in Venda and she must return home to marry Prince Mathivha.
Anzani put up a fight and even convinced her father to meet with Lerumo to see what a wonderful person he is. But this didn’t help. Chief Muneri met Lerumo but is still adamant that his daughter must follow tradition and marry the man who was chosen for her. After all, she is a princess; she needs to respect her culture.
Will Anzani follow her heart or will she succumb to pressure? We chat to actress Fulu Mugovhani.
Why did Anzani hide her real identity?
She doesn’t want to be judged by her status in society. She wants to be judged by her morale and her work. She acknowledges her background and her culture but she doesn’t want that to define who she is, she doesn’t want that label. That doesn’t mean she’s ashamed of being a princess. She’s very proud. But how relevant is it in Gauteng province that she’s a princess? Her work is more relevant.
Why doesn’t she want to marry prince Mathivha?
It’s simple - she doesn’t love him. Now she knows what love is so she’s not about to marry him. She wanted to marry him before because she’s proud of her culture. But now that she’s in love how can she marry someone she doesn’t love? It doesn’t make sense to her.
Does she feel guilty that she’s neglecting her duty as a princess?
She does but she feels that at this point she can convince her father. They have such a close relationship. She convinced him to let her study in Joburg. He’s a progressive guy. Well, that’s what she thought.
But she’s has been unable to convince him to let her date Lerumo…
No, but later she’ll realize it’s not just about following tradition and marrying the prince. It’s deeper, there’s a bigger story.
Does she really love Lerumo or does the idea that their love is forbidden excite her more?
She loves him. I think the audience could see from the beginning they have a connection. Now that he’s opened up she trusts him and she’s fallen in love with the real Lerumo. Remember he not only saved her in the bomb scare but he did his best to protect her even after that happened. And now he introduced her to his mom who’s in a coma. That showed a vulnerable side to Lerumo and just validated her love for him and his love for her.
She’s royalty, does she care that Lerumo is a commoner?
No. Anzani doesn’t see that. She doesn’t see status, she doesn’t see black and white. She sees people. She fell in love. She tried to stop it. She didn’t want to go there because she knew she had a responsibility to the people, but she couldn’t help it.
She has defied her father, but will she succumb to pressure?
I don’t think she’ll give in to pressure. She’s a tiger. She doesn’t give into something she really wants. But I think once she realizes it’s not about her father forcing tradition on her, that it’s bigger than her she’ll understand. She’s very factual, she needs facts. So if the facts of the matter override her emotion or her feelings for Lerumo then she has no choice.
How important is her father’s love to her?
It’s important especially because she grew up without her biological mother. So her father is the only reassurance that she has of being loved.
What will she do if she can’t be with Lerumo?
She’ll be upset but she’s a professional and she needs to go do her job and take responsibility for her role. She will be devastated. This is the first man she’s ever loved.
What more can we expect from Anzani?
She won’t give up. She’ll grow up real quick. The situation forces her to grow up.
Do you think Anzani should choose love or tradition?
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