Legendary local actor and playwright John Kani, who produced and stars in Mzansi Magic’s new drama series ‘Inkaba’, says he once pledged never to star in a soap opera.

Since joining ‘Inkaba’, and breaking his resolution, the icon admits that his more artistic ventures have suffered some delays.

“Because we won the pitch to do Inkaba, I’ve had to postpone my new play. I’d written it, and I was waiting to identify a director, have castings and then speak to the Market Theatre, Baxter Theatre, State Theatre and the Playhouse to see where I would open it,” Kani told TimesLIVE on the weekend.

Kani wrote the play as a follow up to his highly acclaimed ‘Nothing but the Truth’, which showed at the Market Theatre to excellent reviews. He was planning to debut the work, the title of which he will not reveal, at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown later this year, but that now seems unlikely.

Despite interest in New York and London, Kani is adamant that the play – which he described as a “Shakespearean classic” – should debut on local soil.

Asked why he was once averse to the idea of featuring in a soapie, Kani said it had a lot to do to do with his previously inflated ego.

“It comes from the fact that when, as an actor, you become so successful and you create a reputation that you’re a superior actor. But as you grow older, you realise that you need to diversify and that this industry is broad.”

Not only a star on the show, Kani also headed up the pitch for its commission on behalf of Urban Brew Studios, and helped write and produce the 208 half-hour episodes that make up the first series.

Set during the struggle years, ‘Inkaba’ will observe the well worn soap opera protocol: expect forbidden romance, underhanded scheming and an excess of beautiful people.

“The formula for [telenovelas] is frivolous subjects,” Kani conceded.

“You find all these stories of a rich man falling in love with a poor girl, or enemies from different tribes falling in love – a doomed love – but a telenovela always has a happy ending.”

Kani, whose son Atandwa will be performing on stage soon, said the writers hoped to incorporate major world events into the plot.

“We want to accommodate any incidentals. Suppose Barack Obama arrives in South Africa or it’s discovered Brenda Fassie didn’t die but is in Thohoyandou [an allusion to maskandi singer Mgqumeni Khumalo, who was apparently resurrected recently]”

‘Inkaba’, which features Nakedi Ribane, Ernest Ndlovu, Jason Greer, Ilse Klink, Samkelo Ndlovu and Dumisani Mbebe, makes its small screen debut on Monday at 8.30pm on Mzansi Magic.