Stand-up comedian Schalk Bezuidenhout takes on his first lead role in a romantic comedy in the Soos Pynappel op Pizza, set to release on Valentine’s Day.

Schalk Bezuidenhout, a two-time Comics Choice winner, is a seasoned actor. Beyond his stand-up comedy, he starred in the award-winning film Kanarie, won a SAFTA for his role as Danny in the sitcom Hotel, and earned a nomination for his comedic performance as Attie in the sitcom Taktiek.

In the romantic comedy Soos Pynappel op Pizza, Schalk stars alongside Kate Pinchuck, who viewers will recognize from her hilarious, SAFTA-nominated performance as Taryn in Tali’s Baby Diary.

Bezuidenhout plays Waldo, a heartbroken failure to launch who’s living with his parents. A trained chef he exchanges board and lodging for three restaurant quality meals per day. Schalk describes Waldo as “a very stick-in-the-arse kind of person…” who is forced to go on a singles retreat where he meets popular Instagram chef, Becca. At first complete opposites, the two discover they share some commonalities besides being able to cook.

A seasoned actor, Bezuidenhout arrives at his second “romcom” after Kaalgat Karel, in which he played a sidekick. When asked about the character’s relatability, Bezuidenhout says “I could definitely relate to being in that slump of having your heart broken and now you are stuck in this hole, and you need motivation to get yourself out of it”. When it comes to romance, Schalk isn’t into the gamesmanship and due to his complete focus on his stand-up career, tends to be a straightshooter in a bid to uncomplicate matters of the heart.

Taking on the lead role of Waldo, Bezuidenhout stars opposite longtime friend, Kate Pinchuck. Having a history with Kate, the two got on famously and could go places with relative comfort. Schalk says “I don’t know whether the director or the producers knew that we were both so similar to our characters in some ways, but that’s how it worked out”. Both Kate and Schalk tend to be cast as sidekick characters but make a “really refreshing” change as the quirky and sassy best friend types take centrestage in Soos Pynappel op Pizza.

Morne Strydom allowed his comedy actors to riff, giving them the creative freedom to explore improv. Having worked with Soos Pynappel op Pizza producer Zandré Coetzer, Bezuidenhout luckily didn’t have to go through the audition process.

Taking a slightly edgier angle to most South African romantic comedies, Soos Pynappel op Pizza does have a raunchy side as the singles retreat goes to some exotic places. Speakly openly about sex, Bezuidenhout believes it’s “palatable enough that the tannies will say, “Oh, this is quite naughty!” but it isn’t hardcore”.