Shalani Tharaka

Gonakumbura Pangukarage Shalani Tharaka Wijayabandara[1] (sinhala: ශලනි තාරකා; born 15 November 1990), popularly known as Shalani Tharaka, is a Sri Lankan actress and model.[2] One of the most popular television actresses in Sri Lanka, Tharaka holds the title for the Sri Lankan beauty pageant Sirasa Kumariya which she won in 2007.[3] Apart from acting, she is also a dancer, lyricist and author.

Shalani Tharaka
ශලනි තාරකා
Born
Gonakumbura Pangukarage Shalani Tharaka Wijayabandara

(1990-11-15) 15 November 1990
Balangoda, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
EducationNewstead Girls College
OccupationActress, model, dancer, presenter, lyricist
Years active2007-Present
Parents
  • Susantha Wijayabandara (father)
  • Suraji Fernando (mother)
WebsiteOfficial Website

Early life

Tharaka was born on 15 November 1990 in Balangoda. Her father is Susantha Wijayabandara and mother Suraji Fernando is a beautician by profession.[1] She had her primary education at St. Agnes Convent, Balangoda. After her primary education she moved to her mother’s hometown Negombo and had her secondary education there onwards at Newstead Girls College where she studied western and Kandyan dancing styles.[1]

Tharaka is known to had a relationship with fellow actor Dasun Nishan. However, the relationship has been broken after knowing that Nishan is married. Meanwhile, Nishan, aged 34, was found dead, hanging from the ceiling fan in his apartment.[4][5]

Career

In 2007, when she was seventeen years old, she won the beauty pageant Sirasa Kumariya organized by Sirasa TV which brought her into mainstream popularity. Her maiden acting came through the television serial Poojasanaya directed by Sherly P. Delankawala. Later she acted in many television serials in several genre such as Isuru Bawana, Hansi, Giridevi, Api Api Wage (I & II), Ganga Addara and Sanda Sanda Wage which gained popularity.[6][7]

Apart from teledramas she has also contributed in the TV commercials for Hero Honda, Raino[8] and Janet. She has also played parts in music videos such as Oya Dese by Prinyan, Mata Oya by D n S, Wasthuwe by Shafee ft Delon.[1]

In 2012, Tharaka made her maiden cinema appearance in the movie Selvam. She played the role of "Medhavi".[9][10]

She also contested in the second season of Sirasa Dancing Stars as well as Hiru Super Dancer.[11]

Selected television serials
  • Poojasanaya (2008) as Subha
  • Isuru Bawana (2008/09) as Amali [12]
  • Hansi (2009) as Hansi
  • Api Api Wage I and II (2009) as Nikini [13]
  • Samanali (2010) as Samanali
  • Ganga Addara (2011) as Nimali / Nirmala [14]
  • Sanda Sanda Wage (2011) as Sandu [15]
  • Sath Rala Pela (2011) as Minduri [16]
  • Sihina Piyapath (2011) as Mandakini [17]
  • Thuru Ahasata Adarei (2012) as Thuru [16]
  • Aluth Gegara (2012) as Kaveesha
  • Handuna Gathoth Oba Ma (2012) as Bhawana
  • Sanda Pini Bindak (2012) as Uthpala
  • Namal Arana (2012) as Kamalani
  • Arundathi (2012) [18]
  • Sihinayaki Jeewithe (2012) as Sonali [19]
  • Punchi Walauwwa (2014) as Viharaa [20]
  • Doowili Mal (2014) as Lakeesha [21]
  • Dadakeli Arana (2014) [22]
  • A-Level Iwarai (2015)
  • Thaara (2015) as Nanditha
  • Sikka Team (2016)
  • Kutu Kutu Mama (2015)
  • Diyaniyo (2015) as Minduli [23]
  • Wassane Premaya (2015/16) as Astha [24]
  • Mage Adara Awanaduwa (2016) as Dula
  • Muthu Mali (2017) as Muthu
  • Lokantharayo (2017)
  • Sooriya Nayo (2017) as Bhavana
  • Gemunu Maharaja (2017) as Princess Kathika
  • Batahira Ahasa (2017) as Hashini [25]
  • Mithu (2018) as Mithu
  • Kotipathiyo (2018/19) as Parami
  • Eka Diga Kathawak (2018)
  • Sooriya Vachchasa (2018)
  • Haras Paara (2018) as Nimmi
  • Sanda Hangila (2018/19) as Prabha
  • Ado (2019/20) as Kamani [26]
  • Queen (2019/20) as Imesha [27]
  • Sihina Genena Kumariye (2020-present) as Sathsarani
  • Giri Devi (2020-present) as Asha [28]
  • Ahanna Kenek Na (TBD) [29]
  • Haidi (2020)
  • Agni Piyapath (2020)

Filmography
YearFilmRolesRef.
2012SelvamMedhavi
2016SpandanaMayumi
2018NelaNela
TBDAdventures of Ricky DeenStar
TBDViyasiduraTaniya[30]
TBDAkarsha
TBDMaayawi

Awards

Sumathi Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2015Peoples' voteMost Popular ActressWon
2015Handapana GalaBest Upcoming Actress [31]Won
2018Peoples' voteMost Popular Actress [32]Won

Raigam Tele'es
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2015Punchi WalawwaJury Award [33]Won
2016Peoples' voteMost Popular Actress [34]Won

Derana Film Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2019Peoples' voteLux Glamorous Star [35]Won

References
  1. "Shalani Tharaka - Biography of Shalani". www.shalanitharaka.com.
  2. "Shalani Tharaka filmography". Digital Identity of Sinhala Cinema. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  3. Sirasa Kumariya 2007 Final at BMICH 05/23/2007.
  4. ""People in this country are going to do to me what they saw" - Shalani Tharaka". colomboxnews. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  5. "It's been a year since Dasun died". lady. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  6. "Giridevi who hates herself". Aruna. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  7. "Shalani Tharaka is in a crazy case". Divaina. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  8. "Making of the " Raino Tv commercial " - Facebook". www.facebook.com.
  9. "HugeDomains.com - Maremaru.com is for sale (Maremaru)". maremaru.com.
  10. "Shalani Tharaka films". IMDb. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  11. "Shalani Tharaka became a mermaid". Saaravita. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  12. "'Isuru Bawana' miniplay on Rupavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  13. "A dramatic conflict of family, friends and lovers". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  14. "'Ganga Addara' released". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  15. "Sanda Sanda Wage on ITN weekend". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  16. "Sath Rala Pela on Sirasa TV". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  17. "Sihina Piyapath on ITN". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  18. "Siritunga with Arundathi". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  19. "Sihinayaki Jeewithe on screen". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  20. "Punchi Walauwwa on ITN". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  21. "Doowili Mal blooms soon". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  22. "දඩකෙළි අරණ ඇරඹේ". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  23. "Ravindra back with Diyaniyo". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  24. "Wassane Premaya reached 200 episodes". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  25. "Another teledrama from Chamara Janaraj". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  26. "Ado' Viewers live a big dream until it ultimately shatters". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  27. "A Queen on television". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  28. "Giri Devi by Indika Dharmathilake". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  29. "'Ahanna Kenek Na' by Sunil Costa". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  30. "The first feature film from a university". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  31. "Sumathi Tele awards held under President's patronage". ITN News.
  32. "Sumathi Awards 2018 award winners". Sarasaviya.
  33. "Raigam Tele'es 2014 award winners". Sarasaviya.
  34. "Raigam Tele'es 2015 award winners". Sarasaviya.
  35. http://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?mode=head&nid=3600
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.