Dilhani Ekanayake

Dilhani Ekanayake
Dilhani Ekanayake
Born
Dilhani Ashokamala Ekanayake

(1970-03-04) 4 March 1970 (age 54)
Colombo, Sri Lanka
OccupationFilm actress
Years active1990 - Present
SpousePriyankara Perera
ChildrenDilmin Perera
RelativesMilton Perera (father-in-law)
Chalaka Chamupathi (brother-in-law)
AwardsSarasaviya Best Actress Award
Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress Award

Dilhani Ashokamala Ekanayake (Sinhala: දිල්හානි ඒකනායක; born 4 March 1970) is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television.[1] One of the most popular film actresses in Sinhala cinema, Ekanayake has won several awards as the most popular actress in multiple times.

Personal life

Main article: Sri Lanka cinema family

Ekanayake studied at St Clare's girls school, in Colombo. She is married to singer and actor Priyankara Perera son of singer Milton Perera. She has a son, Dilmin Perera.[2]

In late 2020, her husband Priyankara was diagnosed with a kidney failure. He was hospitalized and need to undertake a kidney transplant with an A + or O + type kidney.[3]

Career

Before entering cinema, she acted in few ballets such as Vishwa Geethaya and Saama. In 1987, along with Channa Wijewardena, she performed the ballet Ukussa. Ekanayake made her cinema debut in 1991 film Dedunnen Samanaliyak directed by Yasapalitha Nanayakkara. In that year, she won the Sarasaviya award for the Best Upcoming Actress. In 1992, she won the award for the Most Popular Actress at the same festival.[4]

Her early roles were confined to commercial films. Her ability to dance and her trade mark smile captivated the audiences. She is known as the Sridevi of Sri Lanka.[5] Her career hit a different trail with her role as an abandoned Tamil girl in the film Me Mage Sandai by Asoka Handagama. This serious role paved the way for other remarkable performances in Sudu Kalu Saha Alu (Shades of Grey), Mage Wam Atha (My Left Hand) and Sulanga (Wind). In 2005, she again won the award for the Best Actress for the role Sudu Kalu Saha Alu at Sarasaviya Festival. In 2007, she won Presidential award for the Best Actress for the role in Sulanga.[4]

Also she made some notable roles in Mage Wam atha, Sulanga, Me Mage Sandai, Sudu Kalu Saha Alu, Pem Kekula, Nilambare, Gamani and many comedy films such as Cheriyo Darling, Chaya Maya etc.[4]

Though cited as a cinema actress, she has also starred in several teledramas of which Maya Ranga, Swarna Kingkini, Meeduma, Sath Sanda Kirana and Amarapuraya stand out.[4] She plays a major role in the Sri Lankan movie star show Ridee Reyak, which is a very popular annual event in Sri Lanka. She also performed as a judge of Ranawiru Real Star and Mega Star as well. Her latest performance came through in Dhawala Doowili, Bharyawo,[6] and Deviya Sugala teledramas.

She has been a brand ambassador for Lux.

Awards

Sarasaviya Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1991 Dedunnen Samanaliyak Best Upcoming Actress Won
1992 Most popular Actress Won
2002 Merit Award Won
2002 All performances of the year Special Jury Award Won
2005 Sudu Kalu Saha Alu Best Actress Won

Presidential Film Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2001 Me Mage Sandai Best Actress Won
2005 Sulanga Best Actress Won
2023 Ginnen Upan Seethala Best Supporting Actress Won

[7]

Signis Salutation Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2001 Me Mage Sandai Silver Performance (Female) Won
2012 Gamani Gold Performance (Female) Won

Derana Film Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2012 Gamani Best Actress Won
2015 People's vote Most popular Actress Won
2018 Dharmayuddhaya Best Actress Won

Filmography

Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Film Role Ref.
1990 Dedunnen Samanaliyak
1991 Wada Barinam Wadak Na Thilini
1991 Asai Bayai
1991 Love In Bangkok
1991 Dhanaya
1992 Jaya Sri We Kumariye
1992 Malsara Doni Mangala
1992 Chandi Rajina
1992 Kulageya Edna's younger daughter
1992 Suranimala
1993 Prathignawa Vindya
1993 Sarasa Sarisarana Thek Oba Mage
1993 Mawila Penevi Rupe Hade
1993 Chaya Maya Chaya / Maya
1993 Jeevan Malli
1993 Sandarekha
1993 Sura Weera Chandiyo Kumari
1994 Ekada Wahi
1994 Jayagrahanaya
1994 Nohadan Landune Kanthi
1994 Okkoma Hondatai Anusha
1994 Sudu Piruwata Suranya
1994 Love 94 Umani Baby
1995 Vijay Saha Ajay Hashini
1995 Pudumai Eth Aththai Thusha
1995 Edath Chandiya Adath Chandiya Pavithra
1995 Dalulana Gini
1996 Sabae Mithura
1996 Cheriyo Darling Miss Sweetie
1996 Madhuri Madhuri 'Madu'
1997 Ramba Saha Madhu
1997 Pemmal Mala Pawansala
1997 Re Ru Kumari
1999 Rathu Aluyama Sulochana [8]
1999 Kolompoor Tanisha
1999 Koti Sana
1999 Seetha Samire Amitha [9]
1999 Nagaran Chithra
2000 Premilla
2000 Kauda Bole Alice Nirmala
2000 Me Mage Sandai Tamil Woman
2000 Pem Kakula Sumudu [10]
2001 Jack And Jill Arundathi
2001 Kolomba Koloppan Dilhani
2001 Sellan Kukka [11]
2002 Seethala Gini Kandu Sunny's daughter
2002 Pissu Double Bhagya Ekanayake
2002 Kalu Sudu Mal Nirmala Mudunkotuwa 'Rohini'
2002 Cheriyo Holman [12]
2002 Thahanam Gaha Nirmala [13]
2002 Mage Wam Atha Kamal's wife
2002 Surapurata Kanyaviyak [14]
2003 Sundarai Adare Meena
2003 Pissu Trible Cichchi Cichchi Baby
2003 Sonduru Dadabima Samangi Ranasinghe
2003 Yakada Pihatu Nadeesha Kulasobana
2003 Sudu Salu Thamara [15]
2003 Hitha Honda Pisso Wimala
2004 Bambara Sanakeli
2004 Ra Daniel Dawal Migel 3 Kamala Baby
2004 Ohoma Harida Namali
2004 Samawenna Ma Raththarane
2004 Rajjumala Punya [16]
2005 Sudu Kalu Saha Alu Komala
2005 Sulanga Crisanthi
2006 Naga Kanya Madhu
2006 Nilambare Samadhi
2006 Rana Hansi
2006 Kurulu Pihatu Shalika [17]
2006 Sewwandi Shirani
2007 Hai Master Surangani
2008 Puthuni Hambagiya Uthpala
2008 Siri Raja Siri Sirimal's mother
2008 Pitasakwala Kumarayai Pancho Hathai
2009 Sinasuna Adaren Mrs. Karandeniya
2009 Akasa Kusum Shalika
2010 Thank You Berty Mala
2011 Sinhawalokanaya Subharath Manike
2011 Mahindagamanaya Queen Ramadatta
2011 Gamani Sulochana Weerasekera
2013 Ira Laga Wadi Sewwandi
2014 Siri Daladagamanaya Queen of King Guhasiva
2014 Parapura Sudharma
2014 Que Sera Tara
2014 Ko Mark No Mark Rupika Mihirani
2015 Spandana Piyumi
2015 Lantin Singho Samadara
2016 Sujatha Puthra Mrs. Hettiarachchi
2017 Aloko Udapadi Queen Consort Anula
2017 Kota Uda Express Pabawathi
2017 Dharmayuddhaya Rani
2017 Heena Hoyana Samanallu Madhavi Wijebandara
2017 Paha Samath Samath's mother [18]
2018 Seya IP Waruni Dissanayake [19]
2019 Ginnen Upan Seethala Doctor's Wife
2019 Weli Pawuru Piyumi Ekanayake [20]
2019 Suba Theraniyo Sumana
2019 Reload Princy [21]
2020 Rookada Panchi Rangi's mother [22]
2021 Uthuru Sulanga [23]
2021 Jangi Hora Nayani [24]
2022 Happy Birthday Nita Saparamadu
2023 Deweni Yuddhaya [25]
2023 Ape Principal Principal [26]
2024 Minnu [27]
TBA Thanapathilage Gedara † [28]
TBA Angara † [29]
TBA Tharu Athara † [30]
TBA Mama Nemei † [31]
TBA Magam Soli † [32]

References

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  2. ^ "Dilhani Ekanayaka's son and family". Lankahelp.com. Archived from the original on 8 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  3. ^ "We need your help for Priyankara". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d "Actress who worked only one percent". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  5. ^ "Little Sri Devi and Golden Butterfly". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  6. ^ ""Bharyavo" now on Sirasa". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  7. ^ "President honours Lankan Cinema". Sunday Times. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  8. ^ "'Rathu Aluyama': last creation of Yasapalitha". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  9. ^ "'Seetha Sameere' portrays chefs and lovers". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  10. ^ "'Pem Kekula' goes back to a hilarious past". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  11. ^ "'Sellankukka' for Christmas". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  12. ^ "Cheriyo Holman' now". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  13. ^ "'Thahanam Gaha': A film with a political flavour". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  14. ^ "'Surapurata Kanyaviyak': Mario's new film". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  15. ^ "Luxman's 'Sudu Salu' now on screen". Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  16. ^ "Rajjumala:Anura's third film". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
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  18. ^ "Tear falling cinema about a village boy". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
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  20. ^ "Tale of Melisha and Sisira at Elders Home - plot of Wali Pawuru". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  21. ^ "Honestly modest, courageous, Elapatha deceived the Yama King - Reload". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  22. ^ "A cinematic carnival by the sea". Sunday Times. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  23. ^ "The story of a young man in the south caught in the north wind". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  24. ^ "Adults only film by Somaratne Dissanayake". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  25. ^ "She is back home – Deweni Yuddhaya". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  26. ^ ""වැරැදුණු මඟ නිවැරැදි කළ" අපේ ප්‍රින්සිපල්". සරසවිය. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  27. ^ "තුන්පත් රෑනක සොඳුරු අනන්තය "මින්නු"". www.sundaytimes.lk.
  28. ^ "Film Thaanapathilage Gedara". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  29. ^ "New filmmaker with 'Angara'". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  30. ^ "The story of Subhani who got lost in two worlds .. 'Tharu Athara'". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  31. ^ "සෆීර් මම නෙමෙයි පෙන්වයි". සරසවිය. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  32. ^ "සසර මඟ දිගු කළ මාගම්සෝලි". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 January 2024.