Nay Maps talks about starring in Showmax film Perfect Match

Nay Maps (Umkhokha, Uzalo, Home Wrecker) brings the heat as Muzi in the Showmax Original Perfect Match, which premieres on the streamer on 12 April after debuting at the Joburg Film Festival last month. 

Watch the trailer for Perfect Match

Sanelisiwe Mhlati chats to Nay Maps about playing Muzi, his personal views on love, and what fans can expect from Perfect Match.

Muzi is all about impressing his father and living up to expectations. Have you ever felt pressure to live up to someone’s expectations in your own life?

Yes. When my grandparents would ask me when am I getting married! Also with my parents, I would feel that pressure to not disappoint them. 

What’s the most “Muzi” thing about you? And what’s the biggest difference between you and him?

The most “Muzi” thing about me is loyalty. I am very loyal and dedicated like Muzi. The difference is that I don’t put expectations on my parents to make it a point that I inherit positions in life, like Muzi’s expectation of being the heir of the family company.

Muzi is all about doing whatever it takes to become CEO. Have you ever been in a situation where you had to go to extreme lengths to get what you wanted?

Yes, I had to gain the courage to sit my parents down and tell them that I didn’t want to continue with what I was studying at school so that I could pursue my dream of being an actor and filmmaker. 

Your character is caught between family, love, and ambition. In real life, what’s your biggest motivator?

My biggest motivator is family and love. 

Anele and Muzi push each other to grow throughout the film. Do you think a good relationship should challenge you or should it feel effortless?

I think a good relationship should be effortless and also challenge each other to grow and be better in life. 

In real life, do you have a “type” or are you open to surprises in love?

I do have a type. My type is an open-minded woman, a God-fearing woman who is thoughtful, caring, loving, giving and understanding. She needs to be my friend, my best friend. And, of course, she needs to be absolutely gorgeous and hot. 

The film plays with the idea of perfect love versus real love. Do you believe in soulmates, or do you think love is about choice and effort?

I think love is a choice and effort. I do think that soulmates exist. However, choice and effort play the biggest role.

Perfect Match explores love, deception, and ambition. What’s the biggest takeaway you think audiences will get from the film?

A takeaway from the film is that you can never know when love is right in front of you. Life can throw curveballs but if you open your spiritual eyes, you can realise that you are blessed and have exactly what you need. Another takeaway is that deception will never prevail.

If you had to fake-date someone for a big opportunity like Muzi does, which celebrity would you choose and why?

I don’t fake-date and I don’t use people for opportunities. I’m not an opportunist. 

Muzi is all about luxury and status. Are you the type to enjoy the finer things in life or are you more low-key?

I enjoy the finer things in life in a low-key way! 

There’s a lot of drama, humour, and romance in Perfect Match. Which scene was the most fun for you to shoot?

The scene I enjoyed the most was when Anele forced her way into sleeping on the same bed as Muzi and Muzi was not having it. [laughs]

What’s one behind-the-scenes secret from filming that fans would be surprised to know?

A behind-the-scenes secret that fans would be surprised to know is that we can take the whole day to shoot scenes that will only appear for a few seconds or a minute.

What do you think makes Perfect Match stand out from other romantic comedies?

What makes it different is that it has unexpected twists and turns that other romcoms don’t have.