Sachini: “Acting is my first choice”

“Since my childhood I always wanted to be a model. From those days I was very interested in clothes, shoes, cosmetics. That’s what I always had a passion for. I always wanted to become the Miss Sri Lanka and go for the Miss World. Those were my dreams”

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by Sooriya Liyanage

(March 28, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The lass from Kandy wanted to be the Miss World. That was the dream from her childhood. A versatile model, she is also a much-sought-after actress with two movies to her credit. The girl from the cool climes of the central hills has already won the Miss Sri Lanka title and taken part in the Miss World Contest held recently in China.

Today, in an interview with the Sri Lanka Guardian, the darling of the Colombo catwalks and now accomplished actress in the silver screen, Sachini narrates her story of the journey into the world of fashion, glamour and acting. “My father is a retired planter: mother, a housewife. I have a brother and a sister. The sister was attached to the Cathay Pacific Airline office in Colombo for eight years and the brother was with the Coca Cola company. They are both married and settled down in the United States,” she says giving a brief description of her family.

Her father being a planter, the family had to move from one plantation to another and as a result, most of her school years were spent in the hostel of the Hillwood College, Kandy.

“Since my childhood I always wanted to be a model. From those days I was very interested in clothes, shoes, cosmetics. That’s what I always had a passion for. I always wanted to become the Miss Sri Lanka and go for the Miss World. Those were my dreams,” says Sachini her every expression bubbling with enthusiasm and excitement..


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“Thereafter I did get a number of films but as I was looking at the future of my career as and actress and I just did not want to do anything and everything that came my way. I must add that I was rather slow in most things. So for two years none of my movies or tele films was released. There were so many who wanted to know about the vacuum. I did about eight tele films, three were released. There were two movies, the second one being Sankara by Prasnna Jayakody, and third one will start this month”.
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In school too there had been fashion shows. She had been just 15 years then and had used to model for school fashion shows taking part in all such activities like drama, music programmes, etc. as well. She had done well in her O/L and A/Ls too but had not been interested in going to the university as her heart was not there.

“Then I started modeling for designers outside school and in the year 2002 was chosen the best model in Kandy. I always wanted to be a model. While in school I modelled for a TV commercial of the Elephant House soft drink called Ride. At that time it was very popular and TV viewers knew me from that advertisement. The ‘Sthree’ advertisement of the National Savings Bank (NSB) in 2002 became more popular. It also won two awards in that particular year. It was, I should say, a hit and everybody started talking about me after that. I was still in school when I did that,” says Sachini.

“As soon as I came out of school I wanted to become a model and I told my parents of my ambition. To further my career, I had to move to Colombo. It was during this time that Senesh Bandara Dissanayake, who had seen my Sthree, called me for his film ‘Adaraneeya Wassanaya’.

In 2003 the model turned actress after winning the Miss Sri Lanka pageant, proceeded to take part in the Miss World contest too held in China.

“I won the Miss Sri Lanka contest in 2003 and took part in the Miss World Contest held in China the same year. It was also a new kind of experience. All the 106 girls taking part in the pageant were taken all over China in a private jet. I had a great time there”.

In 2004 her first film, Adaraneeya Wassanaya was released and it was a hit which ran for 120 days. People had really started being crazy about Sachini’s character. She had got so much fan mail. The response was overwhelming and that’s when she wanted to become an actress.

“Thereafter I did get a number of films but as I was looking at the future of my career as and actress and I just did not want to do anything and everything that came my way. I must add that I was rather slow in most things. So for two years none of my movies or tele films was released. There were so many who wanted to know about the vacuum. I did about eight tele films, three were released. There were two movies, the second one being Sankara by Prasnna Jayakody, and third one will start this month”.

For her first movie, Adaraneeya Wassanaya, she had won the OCIC Award for the Best Supporting Actress in 2004. She was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress by Sarasaviya Film Festival and Presidential Awards.

Her second film, Sankara, by Prasanna Jayakody, has already won the highest number of awards for Sri Lanka for Best Film Director at the Cairo Film Festival. It won awards for the Best Film and Best Director in Kerala Film Festival.

“My third movie is Heart FM, produced by EAP Group and directed by Senesh Bandara Dissanayake. From the script itself, I’m confident that it’s going to be a hit,” says Sachini.

On modelling, her fist love before falling in love with films, the lass from Kandy said that it was the glamour that attracted her to a career in modeling. “I also liked to travel, one of my favourite things. Also there are things that one loves to do from their childhood. When you choose something you love to do, you don’t consider it work. I’d do a shoot or an interview or something every day. I don’t call it work, because this is what I’ve been longing to do. Show business is like acting, directing, producing, singing, it’s all show business. Modelling too is show business because it goes with the entertainment industry,” said Sachini.

“I’ve done full time modelling for two years and full time acting for another two years. Modelling is a totally different industry and a profession. I don’t model any more. However I do take part as a brand ambassador but not modelling on the ramp and catwalks simply because I don’t have the time for that”.

Sachini is already a brand ambassador for ABC Credit Card Group and Dialog GSM. “There was a time when I was called the Dialog Girl”, she exclaims. I have been branded with many times with many commercials, especially NSB’s Sthree and Dialog. Recently I did a show for designer Chula Ariyaratne when she wanted me to do a guest appearance to model one of her bridals,” she said.

On tele films, she likes Surangana Duwa shot in London with Malani Fonseka and Ravindra Randeniya. Viewers see her these days in the tele series Rala Bindena Thena on Saturdays and Sundays where she plays the role of a teacher. To be telecast are Surangana Duwa, Sonduru Sithaththee, Nuba Magema Nam and a few more.
At present she is acting in Channa Perera’s Maya Palinguwa.

Expressing her views on acting, Sachini says that she always wanted to act in Hollywood, and brings up that spontaneous laughter, anticipation or sheer joy, it is difficult to fathom.
“You aim high so that you land far higher than many

”. “We all know that there was a very bad period for the film industry. However when the film Adaraneeya Wassanaya was screened and when I saw how the public reacted to a good movie, I thought well, it’s not so bad to become an actress even in Sri Lanka..”.

She also said that she acted in an international production, Amazing race, shot in Sri Lanka. “I was the only girl selected to act in that production. It was nominated for the world’s best programme. It was not shown in Sri Lanka but was screened all over the world in 120 countries. I also had an interview with the NBC when they came down here for the tsunami.”

Sachini had observed that the recognition for an actress here as well as abroad is so much more than a model, and added that, “In film festivals you meet so many directors, producers. I’m going to Toronto in February for the International Film Festival held for two weeks from January 28th.

“I always give priority to acting. Of course the schedule as a brand ambassador too is pretty hectic. But acting is the first choice,” she added.-
Sri Lanka Guardian
Anonymous said...

Lanka guadian has started posting garbage.

Why not leave entertainment or cheesy news to other people?

She is beautiful, so what?

Anonymous said...

Kandian girls r so beautifull. world knows that. she is dame good looking. true kandian.