BU Mthembu reveals how his Adulting role as Vuyani changed him

Luthando ‘BU’ Mthembu is speaking candidly about the hidden costs of fame and the psychological weight of his most famous role to date. The 33-year-old actor, who portrays Vuyani on the popular series Adulting, says the character has fundamentally altered his personality.

While Vuyani is known for his loud confidence and complicated romantic life, Mthembu reveals that the reality behind the scenes is much quieter. Instead of making him more social, the experience of inhabited the character’s world has caused him to retreat inward.

The Toll of the Spotlight

During a recent podcast discussion, the KwaMashu-born star addressed the public perception that the show is merely about steamier scenes. Mthembu pushed back against being labeled a sex symbol, noting that he was comfortable with his sexuality long before the show began.

He emphasized that reducing the show to its physical moments ignores the hard work of the production team. However, he admitted that the intensity of the storylines eventually became a burden.

“It became too much,” Mthembu shared, explaining that constant exposure to the character's high-stakes lifestyle can overwhelm an actor’s ability to process normal life. This weight led him to pull back from the public eye rather than embrace the limelight.

From Reality TV to Serious Acting

Mthembu first broke into the industry on Big Brother Mzansi in 2022. While his stay in the house was brief, it served as a launchpad for roles in Ayeye: Stripped and Redemption, as well as his pursuits in the music industry.

The actor also confessed that filming intimate scenes was a significant challenge that took time to navigate. Despite the career boost Adulting provided, Mthembu is now focused on maintaining his personal boundaries and reassessing how he interacts with the world.