Dilhani Ashokamala Ekanayake (; born 4 March 1970) is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. 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
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.
In late 2020, her husband Priyankara was diagnosed with a kidney failure.
Career Before becoming a film actress, she acted in few ballets. 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.
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. 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.
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.
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. 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, and Deviya Sugala teledramas.
Awards Sarasaviya Awards
|| 1991 ||| Dedunnen Samanaliyak || Best Upcoming Actress || |- || 1992 ||| || Most popular Actress || |- || 2002 ||| || Merit Award || |- || 2002 ||| All performances of the year || Special Jury Award || |- || 2005 ||| Sudu Kalu Saha Alu || Best Actress ||
Presidential Film Awards
|| 2001 ||| Me Mage Sandai || Best Actress || |- || 2005 ||| Sulanga || Best Actress || |- || 2023 ||| Ginnen Upan Seethala || Best Supporting Actress ||
Signis Salutation Awards
|| 2001 ||| Me Mage Sandai || Silver Performance (Female) || |- || 2012 ||| Gamani || Gold Performance (Female) ||
Derana Film Awards
|| 2012 ||| Gamani || Best Actress || |- || 2015 ||| People's vote || Most popular Actress || |- || 2018 ||| Dharmayuddhaya || Best Actress ||
Filmography
Year Film Role Ref. 1990 Dedunnen Samanaliyak 1991 Wada Barinam Wadak Na Thilini Asai Bayai Love In Bangkok Dhanaya 1992 Jaya Sri We Kumariye Malsara Doni Mangala Chandi Rajina Kulageya Edna's younger daughter Suranimala 1993 Prathignawa Vindya Sarasa Sarisarana Thek Oba Mage Mawila Penevi Rupe Hade Chaya Maya Chaya / Maya Jeevan Malli Sandarekha Sura Weera Chandiyo Kumari 1994 Ekada Wahi Jayagrahanaya Nohadan Landune Kanthi Okkoma Hondatai Anusha Sudu Piruwata Suranya Love 94 Umani Baby 1995 Vijay Saha Ajay Hashini Pudumai Eth Aththai Thusha Edath Chandiya Adath Chandiya Pavithra Dalulana Gini 1996 Sabae Mithura Cheriyo Darling Miss Sweetie Madhuri Madhuri 'Madu' 1997 Ramba Saha Madhu Pemmal Mala Pawansala Re Ru Kumari 1999 Rathu Aluyama Sulochana Kolompoor Tanisha Koti Sana Seetha Samire Amitha Nagaran Chithra 2000 Premilla Kauda Bole Alice Nirmala Me Mage Sandai Tamil Woman Pem Kakula Sumudu 2001 Jack And Jill Arundathi Kolomba Koloppan Dilhani Sellan Kukka 2002 Seethala Gini Kandu Sunny's daughter Pissu Double Bhagya Ekanayake Kalu Sudu Mal Nirmala Mudunkotuwa 'Rohini' Cheriyo Holman Thahanam Gaha Nirmala Mage Wam Atha Kamal's wife Surapurata Kanyaviyak 2003 Sundarai Adare Meena Pissu Trible Cichchi Cichchi Baby Sonduru Dadabima Samangi Ranasinghe Yakada Pihatu Nadeesha Kulasobana Sudu Salu Thamara Hitha Honda Pisso Wimala 2004 Bambara Sanakeli Ra Daniel Dawal Migel 3 Kamala Baby Ohoma Harida Namali Samawenna Ma Raththarane Rajjumala Punya 2005 Sudu Kalu Saha Alu Komala Sulanga Crisanthi 2006 Naga Kanya Madhu Nilambare Samadhi Rana Hansi Kurulu Pihatu Shalika Sewwandi Shirani 2007 Hai Master Surangani 2008 Puthuni Hambagiya Uthpala Siri Raja Siri Sirimal's mother Pitasakwala Kumarayai Pancho Hathai 2009 Sinasuna Adaren Mrs. Karandeniya Akasa Kusum Shalika 2010 Thank You Berty Mala 2011 Sinhawalokanaya Subharath Manike Mahindagamanaya Queen Ramadatta Gamani Sulochana Weerasekera 2013 Ira Laga Wadi Sewwandi 2014 Siri Daladagamanaya Queen of King Guhasiva Parapura Sudharma Que Sera Tara Ko Mark No Mark Rupika Mihirani 2015 Spandana Piyumi Lantin Singho Samadara 2016 Sujatha Puthra Mrs. Hettiarachchi 2017 Aloko Udapadi Queen Consort Anula Kota Uda Express Pabawathi Dharmayuddhaya Rani Heena Hoyana Samanallu Madhavi Wijebandara Paha Samath Samath's mother 2018 Seya IP Waruni Dissanayake 2019 Ginnen Upan Seethala Doctor's Wife Weli Pawuru Piyumi Ekanayake Suba Theraniyo Sumana Reload Princy 2020 Rookada Panchi Rangi's mother 2021 Uthuru Sulanga Jangi Hora Nayani 2022 Happy Birthday Nita Saparamadu 2023 Deweni Yuddhaya Ape Principal Principal 2024 Minnu 2025 Rosa Adare Anuj's mother Tentigo father's mistress Walampoori: Seven and Half Dreams Madam Sisika 2025 Soorya Soorya's mother 2025 Mother Lanka 2026 Father older Sandalatha 2026 Dharmayuddhaya 2 Rani Harischandra 2026 Sura Detuwo
References
External links
Official Website - National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka දිල්හානි රංජන්ගේ අම්මා වෙලා - Dilhani Ekanayake සැබෑ මවගේ ගුණය කොතනත් එකයි