Bubbly actress Pooja Umashankar who won her maiden award in Sri Lanka recently said winning the most popular actress award in the country she was born meant a lot to her. The ultra versatile actress who is committed to both kinds of cinema –arty or commercial, has acted in five Sinhala films which were embraced by the masses.

When she works, she works with integrity, honesty and compassion and that has made Pooja a lovable character off camera too.

“Winning the most popular actress at the latest second Derana Lux Film awards ceremony was a dream come true for me. I feel on top of the world,” she told Impulse.

“I never anticipated this award. I purely attended the event because Kusa Paba had been nominated for about 15 awards. I just came to cheer the team up. Wenuka was the first from amongst our team to get an award. There was almost pin-drop silence. It was I who made a loud noise and cheered them up, despite my Amma’s pleas to behave myself. After all I was not doing anything wrong. When you are at an awards function you must get that feel. The excitement lies there,” she said.

Vidiyum Munn is releasing in India this week?

“In fact I had a choice to make in attending the Derana film awards. It was held on the same day when my newest Tamil film ‘Vidiyum Munn’ was releasing in India. I excused myself and attended the Derana event. Thank God I was there to accept my award for the most popular actress. And now I learn that the Indian film will be releasing a week later.

I faced a similar situation some years ago when I had to make a crucial choice. Dhammika uncle wanted me to do ‘Rosa Kele’ while I had ‘Naan Kadawul’ waiting for me in India. I think I made the sensible choice by going to India and Naan Kadawul not only brought me an award for the best actress, but it also won the national award in India. See how God works.

And when your name was announced as the most popular actress…?

I was wearing a red frock. Instantly my face also turned red. I cannot express that feelings in words. I have won several awards in India. But winning the most popular actress award in my motherland gives me immense pride because it has come as result of people’s choice. I knew that there is a huge fanbase for me in Sri Lanka and that they love me so much. They have almost adopted me as a daughter or sister. My fans are my family. They are the heart that keeps me alive. Pooja, the actress would be nowhere when that heart stops.

You are just five films old in Sri Lanka. But you were nominated for the best actress award alongside screen queen Malani Fonseka for your very first role in ‘Anjalika’. And today you are walking away with the award for the most popular actress?

It’s like dream for me… In my career, Naan Kadawul and Kusa Paba are two milestone films in which I play contrasting characters. In one I play a beggar and a prince in the other. And both films won awards. Naan Kadawul won the best film national award in India and Kusa Paba won the best blockbuster film of the year.

Marriage…?

When the right time comes, the right person will walk in. I have to be very cautious about my choices because you can’t judge people on the surface. Some may look so beautiful from out but are chameleons within. There can be predators beneath polished and smiling faces. I believe in God and his blessings. Well, time will have answers and as I always say, you will be the first to know about any news of my marriage,” she laughs.

By Ramesh Uvais