Bahumi Mhlongo faces off with a ‘scandalous mother’ in Loved Out
This Women’s Day, Bahumi Mhlongo steps into a role that’s as layered as it is empowering, playing a rising socialite, whose picture-perfect life begins to crack, in a film brought to life by a predominantly women-led team.
Bahumi Mhlongo has a scandalous and audacious mother, or at least she does in her latest role as Ruva in the upcoming film Loved Out.
The actress and all-around media personality steps into the shoes of a rising socialite who appears to have it all: beauty, confidence, and a thriving restaurant co-owned with her mother.
But behind the glamorous image lies a young woman still wrestling with insecurities rooted in a painful past.
She said Ruva’s mother is larger-than-life, unapologetically bold, and often the centre of drama. One such scandal, years earlier, destroyed Ruva’s reputation, forcing her to drop out of school.
“Her mother’s personality was already intimidating enough,” said Mhlongo without giving away too much, “but that scandal made her withdraw.”
She said that ever since, Ruva has been on a quiet mission to redeem herself, her image, her reputation, and her outlook on life.
Yet, much of that effort is a facade. “It’s an inauthentic approach to loving people… you end up just getting loved out and having no more love to give,” says Mhlongo, as she described the emotional core of the film.
Playing Ruva was a personal experience for Mhlongo, who drew from her upbringing in a prominent family.
Her mother, actress Palesa Modisakwane, became a household name as Palesa on Generations. Her father, the acclaimed television host Somizi Mhlongo, is one of South Africa’s most recognisable entertainers.
She is also the granddaughter of the legendary late Mary Twala, whose career left an indelible mark on the nation’s stage and screen, and the respected Ndaba Mhlongo, a celebrated actor and choreographer.
“Finding your voice in that space can be difficult. It showed me what’s necessary to grow, not the growth people see, but the growth you owe yourself.”
In Loved Out, Ruva’s relationships reveal her inner conflicts. She still loves her high school sweetheart, David, but feels drained by his lack of emotional reciprocity. Her old rival, Lyndon, continues to mock her over her mother’s scandal, while David’s mother becomes yet another source of tension.
“Every person seems to play at her insecurities,” said Mhlongo. She said the script’s sharp writing and layered characters drew her to the project.
The production was largely woman-led, but Mhlongo’s takeaway was not about gender dominance; it was about collaboration.
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“There wasn’t a superiority complex or a desire to prove oneself; it was just a really good working environment.”
While she supports empowering women in film, she believes opportunity should be based on ability and vision, not just gender.
“If a young woman sees another woman doing what she’s always wanted to do, it inspires her. But we have to be careful to focus on competence over category.”
The message she hopes audiences will carry away is that, “Deal with your insecurities before they swallow you. Ask yourself, why am I doing this? Why do I love this person? If your why is rooted in proving yourself to others, you risk burning out.”
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