Tashreeq De Villiers has built a career on versatility. Raised in Woodstock, he grew up surrounded by performers, storytellers and the rich cultural tradition of the annual Coon carnival and Malay choir competitions. By seven years old, he was already a first prize juvenile sentimental singer and later became known as the Comic Song King with more than 15 wins for his storytelling performances.
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His stage talent led him to major South African productions, including Satin to Sequins, Aunty Merle The Musical, Aunty Merle It’s a Girl and Danger in the Dark. These roles earned him two Fleur du Cap nominations for Best Supporting Actor and further cemented his place in local theatre.
His stage talent led him to major South African productions, including Satin to Sequins, Aunty Merle The Musical, Aunty Merle It’s a Girl and Danger in the Dark. These roles earned him two Fleur du Cap nominations for Best Supporting Actor and further cemented his place in local theatre.
Under his musical moniker, Ricky Vani Frontline, he has written and performed more than 40 original songs, earned an Artes Award in 2024, racked up over 7 million YouTube views and dominated Spotify SA with chart toppers like Skit jou lyfie, Anni brand and Hou hom haa. With more than 500k followers across social media, he has become a relatable voice for the youth and a role model for many on the Cape Flats.
Now he adds another powerful performance to his resume as Boogie in Ou Ses: Elke Move Tel, part of the Heart and Hustle anthology screening at Ster-Kinekor cinemas.
It is a role that hits close to home and demands emotional truth. Men’s Health met with Tashreeq to talk about becoming Boogie, drawing from real life experiences and what the role taught him about loyalty, ego and emotional discipline.
Finding Boogie Through Lived Experience
For Tashreeq, understanding Boogie did not require imagination. It required memory.“I grew up around men like Boogie in Woodstock. Big personalities, complicated histories and high-stakes environments. I’ve walked through experiences that many don’t make it out of and instead of running from that past, I channel it into my craft.”
He explains that Boogie’s volatility came from revisiting a version of himself he had long outgrown. This commitment to honesty is why the character feels so real on screen. “It was not about acting tough. It was about reconnecting with the emotional truth behind that toughness.”
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When he first read the script, he knew the role would push him. “I smiled. I told myself, alright, time to bring the old Ricky back. Not the person I am today, but the person I had to survive.”He credits the director with shaping the precise version of Boogie that audiences see on screen. Once he locked into that vision, the intensity surfaced naturally. “Honest characters demand honest performances.”
Loyalty, Chaos and the Men That Live Between Both
Boogie exists in a world where loyalty is currency and betrayal has consequences. This shaped everything for Tashreeq. “In Boogie’s world, when loyalty is broken, the fallout is chaos. That truth guided how I approached him.”
Some roles require building a character from scratch. This one did not.“Boogie felt natural to me. I understood him. At certain points, I was him. That rawness even caught the directors off guard.”
For Men’s Health readers, conversations around mental strength and evolution matter. Tashreeq says playing Boogie reminded him of three powerful lessons:
- Control: “Turning my life from negative to positive required owning my story and steering it with intention.”
- Ego: “Characters like Boogie are driven by ego. Stepping into that mindset and then stepping out of it required discipline. His downfall shows what happens when ego runs the show.”
- Emotional Discipline: “Discipline means doing the right thing even when the odds are against you. That is how I stay composed when the stakes are high, on set and in life.”
Learning From a Strong Ensemble
Working alongside Ganief Mias and Awethu Hleli reinforced a value he carries in every space. “No matter where you stand in the industry, humility matters. The people I respect most carry themselves with grounded confidence, not noise.” More than anything, Tashreeq wants viewers to recognise the truth in Boogie.
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“I hope the audience meets Boogie in his rawest form. People on the Cape Flats will recognise him instantly because almost everyone there knows a man like Boogie. And that honesty is what makes him relatable.” Through Boogie, Tashreeq delivers one of his most powerful performances yet, reminding audiences that redemption often comes from looking your past in the eye and choosing who you become next.
