Dilhani Ekanayake

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.

Dilhani Ekanayake
Dilhani Ekanayake
Born
Dilhani Ashokamala Ekanayake

(1970-03-04) 4 March 1970
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

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
1991Dedunnen SamanaliyakBest Upcoming ActressWon
1992Most popular ActressWon
2002Merit AwardWon
2002All performances of the yearSpecial Jury AwardWon
2005Sudu Kalu Saha AluBest ActressWon

Presidential Film Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2001Me Mage SandaiBest ActressWon
2005SulangaBest ActressWon [7]

Signis Salutation Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2001Me Mage SandaiSilver Performance (Female)Won
2012GamaniGold Performance (Female)Won

Derana Film Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2012GamaniBest ActressWon
2015People's voteMost popular ActressWon
2018DharmayuddhayaBest ActressWon

Filmography
YearFilmRoleRef.
1990Dedunnen Samanaliyak
1991Wada Barinam Wadak NaThilini
1991Asai Bayai
1991Love In Bangkok
1991Dhanaya
1992Jaya Sri We Kumariye
1992Malsara DoniMangala
1992Chandi Rajina
1992KulageyaEdna's younger daughter
1992Suranimala
1993PrathignawaVindya
1993Sarasa Sarisarana Thek Oba Mage
1993Mawila Penevi Rupe Hade
1993Chaya MayaChaya / Maya
1993Jeevan Malli
1993Sandarekha
1993Sura Weera ChandiyoKumari
1994Ekada Wahi
1994Jayagrahanaya
1994Nohadan LanduneKanthi
1994Okkoma HondataiAnusha
1994Sudu PiruwataSuranya
1994Love 94Umani Baby
1995Vijay Saha AjayHashini
1995Pudumai Eth AththaiThusha
1995Edath Chandiya Adath ChandiyaPavithra
1995Dalulana Gini
1996Sabae Mithura
1996Cheriyo DarlingMiss Sweetie
1996MadhuriMadhuri 'Madu'
1997Ramba Saha Madhu
1997Pemmal MalaPawansala
1997Re RuKumari
1999Rathu AluyamaSulochana[8]
1999KolompoorTanisha
1999Koti Sana
1999Seetha SamireAmitha[9]
1999NagaranChithra
2000Premilla
2000Kauda Bole AliceNirmala
2000Me Mage SandaiTamil Woman
2000Pem KakulaSumudu[10]
2001Jack And JillArundathi
2001Kolomba KoloppanDilhani
2001Sellan Kukka[11]
2002Seethala Gini KanduSunny's daughter
2002Pissu DoubleBhagya Ekanayake
2002Kalu Sudu MalNirmala Mudunkotuwa 'Rohini'
2002Cheriyo Holman[12]
2002Thahanam GahaNirmala[13]
2002Mage Wam AthaKamal's wife
2002Surapurata Kanyaviyak[14]
2003Sundarai AdareMeena
2003Pissu TribleCichchi Cichchi Baby
2003Sonduru DadabimaSamangi Ranasinghe
2003Yakada PihatuNadeesha Kulasobana
2003Sudu SaluThamara[15]
2003Hitha Honda PissoWimala
2004Bambara Sanakeli
2004Ra Daniel Dawal Migel 3Kamala Baby
2004Ohoma HaridaNamali
2004Samawenna Ma Raththarane
2004RajjumalaPunya[16]
2005Sudu Kalu Saha AluKomala
2005SulangaCrisanthi
2006Naga KanyaMadhu
2006NilambareSamadhi
2006Rana Hansi
2006Kurulu PihatuShalika[17]
2006SewwandiShirani
2007Hai MasterSurangani
2008Puthuni HambagiyaUthpala
2008Siri Raja SiriSirimal's mother
2008Pitasakwala Kumarayai Pancho Hathai
2009Sinasuna AdarenMrs. Karandeniya
2009Akasa KusumShalika
2010Thank You BertyMala
2011SinhawalokanayaSubharath Manike
2011MahindagamanayaQueen Ramadatta
2011GamaniSulochana Weerasekera
2013Ira Laga WadiSewwandi
2014Siri DaladagamanayaQueen of King Guhasiva
2014ParapuraSudharma
2014Que SeraTara
2014Ko Mark No MarkRupika Mihirani
2015SpandanaPiyumi
2015Lantin SinghoSamadara
2016Sujatha PuthraMrs. Hettiarachchi
2017Aloko UdapadiQueen Consort Anula
2017Kota Uda ExpressPabawathi
2017DharmayuddhayaRani
2017Heena Hoyana SamanalluMadhavi Wijebandara
2017Paha SamathSamath's mother[18]
2018SeyaVaruni Dissanayake[19]
2019Ginnen Upan SeethalaDoctor's Wife
2019Weli PawuruPiyumi Ekanayake[20]
2019Suba TheraniyoSumana
2019ReloadPrincy[21]
2020Rookada PanchiRangi's mother[22]
2021Uthuru Sulanga[23]
2021Jangi HoraNayani[24]
2022Happy BirthdayNita Saparamadu
2023Deweni Yuddhaya[25]
TBDThanapathilage Gedara[26]
TBDAngara[27]
TBDTharu Athara[28]
TBDMama Nemei[29]
TBDApe Principal[30]

References
  1. "Now the film industry is in a place where it seems to be disappearing: Dilhani Ekanayake". සරසවිය. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  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. "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.
  17. "Sumith enters cinema with 'Kurulu Pihatu'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  18. "Tear falling cinema about a village boy". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  19. "Seya, Her spirit will follow you". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  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. "Film Thaanapathilage Gedara". Sarasaviya. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  27. "New filmmaker with 'Angara'". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  28. "The story of Subhani who got lost in two worlds .. 'Tharu Athara'". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  29. "සෆීර් මම නෙමෙයි පෙන්වයි". සරසවිය. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  30. ""වැරැදුණු මඟ නිවැරැදි කළ" අපේ ප්‍රින්සිපල්". සරසවිය. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
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