Dancing diva
by Ruwini Jayawardana
Someone once stated that to
dance is to be out of yourself: larger, more beautiful and more
powerful. This is the key feature in Sandun Rajakaruna’s maiden
cinematic production’s leading lady. Looks, fame, fortune and talent,
Hashini Shashika Gonagala has them all.
  Though she entered the spotlight opposite Dushyanth Weeraman as his
dancing partner in the reality television program ‘Dancing Star’, it did
not take long for this petite young lady to make her mark. Many
film-makers have set their sights on this bubbly beauty with a gift for
dancing however it is Rajakaruna, who managed to win her over with his
maiden movie ‘Uththara’.
“I am fortunate because the big break came early. Everyone is not
offered lead roles at the beginning of her career. Only a few actresses
including our seasoned actress Malani Fonseka were offered the lead in
their debut film,” she said. Though ‘Uththara’ was the first film she
had signed up, local movie buffs were able to see her in performance in
‘Dancing Star’, the movie.
There she portrayed a completely different role to the one in ‘Uththara’.
She says: “I took on a role of a spoilt brat in ‘Dancing Star’ while my
character in ‘Uththara’ is a warm-hearted young girl who tries to give
up everything she has for the sake of love. It was thrilling to act with
actors like Ravindra Randeniya and Malani Fonseka in ‘Dancing Star’ but
‘Uththara’ is closer to my heart.” Hashini had been recommended for the
film by lead actor Suraj Mapa who had seen her gift for dancing. She had
been rehearsing for the finals of the reality competition which she
ultimately won with Weeraman. “My parents did not object to the offer
and I was fascinated by the story.
Uththara is a lot like me, meaning that she too shares a passion for
art. I enjoyed the music and dance scenes a lot,” adds the
twenty-one-year-old who is a product of Stafford International, Colombo.
She thoroughly believes that dancing brought her luck.
She had been offered many roles in movies but had to refuse a
majority because she wished to focus on her studies in the Commerce
stream.
Hashini says that taking part in one of Anoja Weerasinghe’s workshops
helped her face the cameras. Cameras were not alien to her as she had
been swaying to many a rhythm at the reality program. She hopes to
choose her roles and take part in creations which merge with her tastes.
‘Uththara’ is screening at Savoy cinema and EAP theatres islandwide.
Pix: Tennyson Edirisinghe
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