Popular actor Roshan Ranawana who had bagged the Sumathi most popular actor award for tele dramas in 2008 followed by the People’s Award Youth actor in 2011, recently won his first most popular actor award for movies.

“I have been in movies for seven years and this is the first popular award I received. It is indeed a significant milestone in my career. My films like Hiripoda Wessa and Aasai Mang Piyambanna were voted the most popular movies but I did not receive the popular actor award. On the other hand the restriction of film award ceremonies also deprived us of such awards. I am grateful to Derana for organizing this award ceremony fro the second successive year. It is a grand event and the night exclusively belongs to stars,” he told Impulse.

And Pooja won the most popular actress award?

Well, that was also significant because we both played the lead pair in Asai Mang Piyambanna and Suwanda Danuna Jeewithe which became two big hits. I always feel I am not going to be the eternal popular actor just because I won this award. Popularity can swing either way. It’s just a moment of glory and one has to accept it. The criteria used to gauge popularity might look somewhat impractical  but the people’s verdict is the ultimate truth. I always attend award ceremonies irrespective of whether I get an award, nominated or not. That’s my policy. I want to only encourage my colleagues in the film world.

Your current projects?

I am working for Diluka Gunathilaka’s latest tele serial ‘Kalu Sevanella’ in which I play the role of ‘Arthur Deor’. It’s a mystery story depicting the early 1900s in England. Veteran artistes Jeevan Kumaratunga, Maureen Charuni, Cletus Mendis and others play the key roles together with me. I hope this character will also turn out to be an important milestone in my career.