 by Ruwini Jayawardana
 Big surprises come in small packages - the ideal case in point could
well be showbiz’s new entrant Udari Warnasuriya. Beginning her path to
stardom with the Miss Sri Lanka pageant in 2007, her face soon became
synonymous with the commercials and music videos played on television.
Now she is making waves in the scene with Udayakantha Warnasuriya’s
movie ‘Paya Enna Hiru Se’ as the warm hearted Dinali.
“Director Udayakantha saw some of my pictures and called me for an
interview. I had to act a scene from the film in front of the panel
which comprised the director, producer Dammika Siriwardena and assistant
director Donald Jayantha.
I think I must have carried it off well
because the next time they called me, they informed that I have been
chosen for the role,” the young lady enthusiastically exclaims on her
entrance to the reel.
She talked excitedly on her emotions after discovering that it is the
female lead role which was in store for her. She says: “I was
overwhelmed as I was expecting a second lead or a minor role.
I was also
excited as I love the director’s work. To be chosen for his film was a
dream come true.” Udari’s maiden role was opposite popular actor Ranjan
Ramanayake. She recalled the humorous moments the duo shared with child
actor Tharuka Wijeratne.
 “One of the scenes involved me scolding Ranjan and Tharuka for
playing basketball indoors and breaking a vase. They were punished for
their naughtiness and had to kneel on the floor for half an hour. Ranjan
slowly climbs onto a chair and turns the hands of the wall clock so that
it shows that the time is up and both of them escape from their
punishment early,” she giggles reflecting on one of her favourite scenes
from ‘Paya Enna Hiru Se’.
Apart from the commercials and music videos like Sanka Dineth’s ‘Oba’,
Daddy’s ‘Borukari’ and Madhava’s ‘Hirigadu Pipena’, she had also
compered the ‘Juke Box’ program on Derana television.She says that she
would like to continue acting, taking on roles which will catch her
interest.
“Dinali is a mature character. She is a courageous woman who tries to
solve the tragedy which had befallen on her family in the best possible
manner. I too share some of her features, especially the fact that we
both love children,” she says. She would, however, love to take on a
happy-go-lucky role of a much younger character.
Being just 21 years old with ample good looks and talent, there is no
doubt that she will go a long way in showbiz.A product of Ave Maria
Convent, Negambo, she had done dancing as a subject for her Ordinary
Levels examination and science for her Advanced Level examination. She
was also a member of the school’s Western and Eastern bands and a member
of the Western folk band. She is married to Dr. Sujith Indeewara
Wijeratne. |
