Award-winning film and tele drama actress Dilhani Ekanayake who bagged an award for her very first film role in 1991 is continuing to win awards for her acting talents.

Having bagged the Sarasaviya, Presidential and OCIC/SIGNIS awards for the best actress over the years, Dilhani recently bagged a golden double for her significant role in ‘Gamani’ winning the best actress award at the SIGNIS and LUX Derana Film Awards ceremonies.

In a career spanning more than two decades she has acted in over 105 films and ten tele creations.

She told Impulse that she dedicated herself a lot towards the success of the role in Gamani and many people had believed she would be rewarded for the powerful role in the movie.

“I am very much delighted about the two awards for the best actress. It was a fine role. I had to study the lifestyles of the people in such villages before embarking on the character. I did my best and I am glad about the end result,” she said.

You also played another powerful role in Mahindgamanaya last year?

Well it was also nominated for awards. I had to be extra careful in playing that sensitive role because it was a historic one.

Why aren’t you seen much on the small screen?

I am very choosy when it comes to the selection of roles, especially on television. That is one key reason why I am rarely seen on TV.

How do you see our cinema the and now?

Well, I must say that in the past we enjoyed whatever we did. But today the situation has changed. Competition is terrific. The rat race is at its peak. Fewer commercial films are being made now compared to the good old days. I am concerned about the quality in whatever I do and I must insist that I still continue to learn the art of acting. We need good producers to uplift this industry.

Your family

My parents, my husband Priyankara and my son Pasindu who is also passionate about music like his father. He is preparing for his AL exam. Priyankara understands my profession and helps me a lot and so are my parents. I am very much grateful to them. I am also thankful to Yasapalitha Nanayakkara, Athaudahetti, Sarath Weerasekara and Upali Rajapaksa who produced Gamani.

Your awards…

I won the best up and coming actress award in 1991 for my maiden role in Dedunnen Samanliyak. The following year too I won the Sarasaviya award for weda Berinam Wedak Ne. In 1993 I won an award for Chaya Maya.

In 2001 I won the Presidential best actress award for Me Mage Sandai followed by two Sarasaviya awards in 2002 and 2003. ‘Sulanga’ brought me another best actress Sarasaviya award in 2005. The same year I won the best actress award at SIGNIS and Presidential. In 2010 I won the SIGNIS award for Akasa Kusum. And this year too I won a double for Gamani.

By Vasantha Wimalasinghe