Wandile built a reputable career as an actor, on TV and in film. But the multi-talented man is also a musician and an entrepreneur and co-owns a rising production company, Coal Stove Pictures.
Having conquered the entertainment industry, Wandile is ready for his next act, fatherhood and married life.
“I know it may sound like a cliché, but everything changed when our son was born,” he tells Blacklight.
“I have new priorities now. I need to work harder and focus on providing for my family. So, it’s actually a good change. I love it.”
Molebatsi married stylist and fashion designer, Jessica, in 2013, and they welcomed their son in 2015. He describes his wife as a patient, loving and caring woman.“There has been a positive shift in my life since I met my wife, Jessica. Before I met her I was irritable. I used to get annoyed when things were not going my way, but she calms me and situations no longer get the best of me,” he says.
He adds that through married life, he has learnt that the best way to show love and appreciation for your partner is by sharing responsibilities, including household chores.
“It’s okay to surprise her (your partner) with romantic gifts, every now and then, but it’s also important that she knows that you are present with her and that you care.”
Wandile Molebatsi
Wandile Molebatsi is now a happy man. (Photo supplied)
Wandile got his first big onscreen break at the tender age of ten, starring in the movie Born Free. He remembers his first time in front of the camera as a daunting experience. However, he has since grown to become a seasoned film star, in front and behind the camera.
He has achieved longevity and has a string of successful movies and TV appearances, such as When We Were Black, The Wild and Soul City, to name a few.
“I got rejected a lot for television and movie roles. It was very heartbreaking. But my mother taught me that there was more to life than getting approval from directors.”
Wandile attributes his everlasting success to resilience, dedication and a great support structure. “As an artist, you need to persevere through hardships and know your worth.
“For me, I can say I was also lucky to have a good support system in the form of my mother.”
“I got rejected a lot for television and movie roles. It was very heartbreaking. But my mother taught me that there was more to life than getting approval from directors.”
He believes that rejection taught him self-love. “If life does not go as planned, and you get disappointed by something, that does not mean you need to go and drink your life away.”
As the co-owner of the production company, Coal Stove Pictures, which produced the first South African dance flick, Hear Me Move, Wandile has to spread himself thin.