Shalani Tharaka
ශලනි තාරකා
Born
Gonakumbura Pangukarage Shalani Tharaka Wijayabandara

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

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.

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]

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. Her co-star in Poojasanaya was Suraj Mapa. 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.[4][5]

Apart from teledramas she has also contributed in the TV commercials for Hero Honda, Raino[6] 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".[7] Later she appeared in lead role in the horror film Spandana. She also contested in the second season of Sirasa Dancing Stars as well as Hiru Super Dancer.[8]

On 19 September 2020, she was awarded both Best teledrama actress and Most popular teledrama actress at 16th Raigam Tele'es ceremony. It was the first time in 24 years where one actress won both awards at the same time.[9] In 2021, she appeared in the Raffealla Fernando Celebrity Calendar along with many other Sri Lankan celebrities which is considered as one of the highest civilian honours awarded to an individual.[10]

Selected television serials

YearTeledramaRolesRef.
2008PoojasanayaSubha
2008-09Isuru BhawanaAmali[11]
2009HansiHansi
Api Api WageNikini[12]
2010SamanaliSamanali
2011Ganga AddaraNimali / Nirmala[13]
Sanda Sanda WageSandu[14]
Sath Rala PelaMinduri[15]
Sihina PiyapathMandakini[16]
2012Thuru Ahasata AdareiThuru[15]
ArundatiArundati[17]
Sihinayaki JeewitheSonali[18]
Aluth GedaraKaveesha
Haduna Gatthoth Oba MaBhawana
Sanda Pini BidakUthpala
Namal AranaKamalini
2014Punchi WalawwaVihara Eknaligoda[19]
Doowili MalLakeesha[20]
Dadakeli Arana[21]
2015DiyaniyoMinduli[22]
ThaaraNandita
A/L Iwarai
Kutu Kutu MamaKumari
2015-16Wassanaye PremayaAstha[23]
2016Mage Adara AwanaduwaDula
Sikka TeamShana
2017Batahira AhasaHashini[24]
Gemunu MaharajaPrincess Kathika
Muthu MaliMuthu
Sooriya NayoBhawana
LokantharayoSiri
2018MithuMithu
Sooriya WachchasaWachee
Haras ParaNimmi
2018-19KotipathiyoParami Caldera
Sanda HangilaPrabha
2019-20AdoKamani[25]
QueenImesha[26]
2020GirideviAsha[27]
Can You Hear MeSakuntala
HaidiHaidi
2020-21Agni PiyapathTrishi[28]
Sihina Genena KumariyeSathsarani
2021–2023Kiya Denna Adare Tharam (KDAT)Sneha[29]
ChaloChalo[30][31]
2022–presentWeRadha
Thathparayak DennaDoctor Nithya
MeenuAsheka
2023Akshi
Heenayaki Me Adare
4chun Residencies

Filmography

YearFilmRolesRef.
2012SelvamMedhavi[32]
2016SpandanaMayumi[33]
2018NelaNela[34]
2023ViyasiduruTaniya[35]
TBDAdventures of Ricky DeenStar[36]
TBDAkarsha
TBDMaayawi

Awards

Sumathi Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2015Peoples' voteMost Popular ActressWon
2015Handapana GalaBest Upcoming Actress[37]Won
2018Peoples' voteMost Popular Actress[38]Won

Raigam Tele'es

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2015Punchi WalawwaJury Award[39]Won
2016Peoples' voteMost Popular Actress[40]Won
2020Peoples' voteMost Popular ActressWon
2020AdoBest Actress[41]Won
2022Kiya Denna Adare TharamMost Popular ActressWon

Derana Film Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2019Peoples' voteLux Glamorous Star [42]Won

SIGNIS OCIC Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2021GirideviBest ActressWon

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "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. ↑ "Giridevi who hates herself". Aruna. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  5. ↑ "Shalani Tharaka is in a crazy case". Divaina. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  6. ↑ "Making of the " Raino Tv commercial " - Facebook". www.facebook.com.
  7. ↑ "Shalani Tharaka films". IMDb. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  8. ↑ "Shalani Tharaka became a mermaid". Saaravita. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  9. ↑ "Winter is coming but spring is coming". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  10. ↑ "Rafaela's calendar changed by art stars". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  11. ↑ "'Isuru Bawana' miniplay on Rupavahini". Sunday Times. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  12. ↑ "A dramatic conflict of family, friends and lovers". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  13. ↑ "'Ganga Addara' released". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  14. ↑ "Sanda Sanda Wage on ITN weekend". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  15. 1 2 "Sath Rala Pela on Sirasa TV". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  16. ↑ "Sihina Piyapath on ITN". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  17. ↑ "Siritunga with Arundathi". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  18. ↑ "Sihinayaki Jeewithe on screen". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  19. ↑ "Punchi Walauwwa on ITN". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  20. ↑ "Doowili Mal blooms soon". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  21. ↑ "දඩකෙළි අරණ ඇරඹේ". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  22. ↑ "Ravindra back with Diyaniyo". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  23. ↑ "Wassane Premaya reached 200 episodes". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  24. ↑ "Another teledrama from Chamara Janaraj". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  25. ↑ "Ado' Viewers live a big dream until it ultimately shatters". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  26. ↑ "A Queen on television". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  27. ↑ "Giri Devi by Indika Dharmathilake". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  28. ↑ "Agni Piyapth at a new time". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  29. ↑ "I'll have a fate somewhere, he's coming on time". සරසවිය. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  30. ↑ "Chalo with Shalani". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  31. ↑ "Chalo is now on Swarnavahini". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  32. ↑ "Sanjaya returns with 'Selvam'". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  33. ↑ "Spandana on screen". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  34. ↑ "Sinhala screened films". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  35. ↑ "The first feature film from a university". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  36. ↑ "Reflections of life's journey in a valley". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  37. ↑ "Sumathi Tele awards held under President's patronage". ITN News.
  38. ↑ "Sumathi Awards 2018 award winners". Sarasaviya.
  39. ↑ "Raigam Tele'es 2014 award winners". Sarasaviya.
  40. ↑ "Raigam Tele'es 2015 award winners". Sarasaviya.
  41. ↑ "Raigam Tele'es Best Actress and Most Popular Actress: Shalani Tharaka". Silumina. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  42. ↑ "Derana Lux Film Awards 2019".
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