# Dilhani Ekanayake

Dilhani Ashokamala Ekanayake (Sinhala: දිල්හානි ඒකනායක; born 4 March 1970) is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. One of the most popular film actresses in Sinhala cinema, Ekanayake has won several awards as the most popular actress in multiple times.

## Personal life

Ekanayake studied at St Clare's girls school, in Colombo. She is married to singer and actor Priyankara Perera son of singer Milton Perera. She has a son, Dilmin Perera.
In late 2020, her husband Priyankara was diagnosed with a kidney failure. He was hospitalized and need to undertake a kidney transplant with an A + or O + type kidney.

## Career

Before entering cinema, she acted in few ballets such as Vishwa Geethaya and Saama. In 1987, along with Channa Wijewardena, she performed the ballet Ukussa. Ekanayake made her cinema debut in 1991 film Dedunnen Samanaliyak directed by Yasapalitha Nanayakkara. In that year, she won the Sarasaviya award for the Best Upcoming Actress. In 1992, she won the award for the Most Popular Actress at the same festival.
Her early roles were confined to commercial films. Her ability to dance and her trade mark smile captivated the audiences. She is known as the Sridevi of Sri Lanka. Her career hit a different trail with her role as an abandoned Tamil girl in the film Me Mage Sandai by Asoka Handagama. This serious role paved the way for other remarkable performances in Sudu Kalu Saha Alu (Shades of Grey), Mage Wam Atha (My Left Hand) and Sulanga (Wind). In 2005, she again won the award for the Best Actress for the role Sudu Kalu Saha Alu at Sarasaviya Festival. In 2007, she won Presidential award for the Best Actress for the role in Sulanga.
Also she made some notable roles in Mage Wam atha, Sulanga, Me Mage Sandai, Sudu Kalu Saha Alu, Pem Kekula, Nilambare, Gamani and many comedy films such as Cheriyo Darling, Chaya Maya etc.
Though cited as a cinema actress, she has also starred in several teledramas of which Maya Ranga, Swarna Kingkini, Meeduma, Sath Sanda Kirana and Amarapuraya stand out. She plays a major role in the Sri Lankan movie star show Ridee Reyak, which is a very popular annual event in Sri Lanka. She also performed as a judge of Ranawiru Real Star and Mega Star as well. Her latest performance came through in Dhawala Doowili, Bharyawo, and Deviya Sugala teledramas.
She has been a brand ambassador for Lux.

## Awards
### Sarasaviya Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1991 | Dedunnen Samanaliyak | Best Upcoming Actress | Won |
| 1992 | | Most popular Actress | Won |
| 2002 | | Merit Award | Won |
| 2002 | All performances of the year | Special Jury Award | Won |
| 2005 | Sudu Kalu Saha Alu | Best Actress | Won |

### Presidential Film Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2001 | Me Mage Sandai | Best Actress | Won |
| 2005 | Sulanga | Best Actress | Won |
| 2023 | Ginnen Upan Seethala | Best Supporting Actress | Won |

### Signis Salutation Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2001 | Me Mage Sandai | Silver Performance (Female) | Won |
| 2012 | Gamani | Gold Performance (Female) | Won |

### Derana Film Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2012 | Gamani | Best Actress | Won |
| 2015 | People's vote | Most popular Actress | Won |
| 2018 | Dharmayuddhaya | Best Actress | Won |

## Filmography

Key :
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Film | Role |
| 1990 | Dedunnen Samanaliyak | |
| 1991 | Wada Barinam Wadak Na | Thilini |
| 1991 | Asai Bayai | |
| 1991 | Love In Bangkok | |
| 1991 | Dhanaya | |
| 1992 | Jaya Sri We Kumariye | |
| 1992 | Malsara Doni | Mangala |
| 1992 | Chandi Rajina | |
| 1992 | Kulageya | Edna's younger daughter |
| 1992 | Suranimala | |
| 1993 | Prathignawa | Vindya |
| 1993 | Sarasa Sarisarana Thek Oba Mage | |
| 1993 | Mawila Penevi Rupe Hade | |
| 1993 | Chaya Maya | Chaya / Maya |
| 1993 | Jeevan Malli | |
| 1993 | Sandarekha | |
| 1993 | Sura Weera Chandiyo | Kumari |
| 1994 | Ekada Wahi | |
| 1994 | Jayagrahanaya | |
| 1994 | Nohadan Landune | Kanthi |
| 1994 | Okkoma Hondatai | Anusha |
| 1994 | Sudu Piruwata | Suranya |
| 1994 | Love 94 | Umani Baby |
| 1995 | Vijay Saha Ajay | Hashini |
| 1995 | Pudumai Eth Aththai | Thusha |
| 1995 | Edath Chandiya Adath Chandiya | Pavithra |
| 1995 | Dalulana Gini | |
| 1996 | Sabae Mithura | |
| 1996 | Cheriyo Darling | Miss Sweetie |
| 1996 | Madhuri | Madhuri 'Madu' |
| 1997 | Ramba Saha Madhu | |
| 1997 | Pemmal Mala | Pawansala |
| 1997 | Re Ru | Kumari |
| 1999 | Rathu Aluyama | Sulochana |
| 1999 | Kolompoor | Tanisha |
| 1999 | Koti Sana | |
| 1999 | Seetha Samire | Amitha |
| 1999 | Nagaran | Chithra |
| 2000 | Premilla | |
| 2000 | Kauda Bole Alice | Nirmala |
| 2000 | Me Mage Sandai | Tamil Woman |
| 2000 | Pem Kakula | Sumudu |
| 2001 | Jack And Jill | Arundathi |
| 2001 | Kolomba Koloppan | Dilhani |
| 2001 | Sellan Kukka | |
| 2002 | Seethala Gini Kandu | Sunny's daughter |
| 2002 | Pissu Double | Bhagya Ekanayake |
| 2002 | Kalu Sudu Mal | Nirmala Mudunkotuwa 'Rohini' |
| 2002 | Cheriyo Holman | |
| 2002 | Thahanam Gaha | Nirmala |
| 2002 | Mage Wam Atha | Kamal's wife |
| 2002 | Surapurata Kanyaviyak | |
| 2003 | Sundarai Adare | Meena |
| 2003 | Pissu Trible | Cichchi Cichchi Baby |
| 2003 | Sonduru Dadabima | Samangi Ranasinghe |
| 2003 | Yakada Pihatu | Nadeesha Kulasobana |
| 2003 | Sudu Salu | Thamara |
| 2003 | Hitha Honda Pisso | Wimala |
| 2004 | Bambara Sanakeli | |
| 2004 | Ra Daniel Dawal Migel 3 | Kamala Baby |
| 2004 | Ohoma Harida | Namali |
| 2004 | Samawenna Ma Raththarane | |
| 2004 | Rajjumala | Punya |
| 2005 | Sudu Kalu Saha Alu | Komala |
| 2005 | Sulanga | Crisanthi |
| 2006 | Naga Kanya | Madhu |
| 2006 | Nilambare | Samadhi |
| 2006 | Rana Hansi | |
| 2006 | Kurulu Pihatu | Shalika |
| 2006 | Sewwandi | Shirani |
| 2007 | Hai Master | Surangani |
| 2008 | Puthuni Hambagiya | Uthpala |
| 2008 | Siri Raja Siri | Sirimal's mother |
| 2008 | Pitasakwala Kumarayai Pancho Hathai | |
| 2009 | Sinasuna Adaren | Mrs. Karandeniya |
| 2009 | Akasa Kusum | Shalika |
| 2010 | Thank You Berty | Mala |
| 2011 | Sinhawalokanaya | Subharath Manike |
| 2011 | Mahindagamanaya | Queen Ramadatta |
| 2011 | Gamani | Sulochana Weerasekera |
| 2013 | Ira Laga Wadi | Sewwandi |
| 2014 | Siri Daladagamanaya | Queen of King Guhasiva |
| 2014 | Parapura | Sudharma |
| 2014 | Que Sera | Tara |
| 2014 | Ko Mark No Mark | Rupika Mihirani |
| 2015 | Spandana | Piyumi |
| 2015 | Lantin Singho | Samadara |
| 2016 | Sujatha Puthra | Mrs. Hettiarachchi |
| 2017 | Aloko Udapadi | Queen Consort Anula |
| 2017 | Kota Uda Express | Pabawathi |
| 2017 | Dharmayuddhaya | Rani |
| 2017 | Heena Hoyana Samanallu | Madhavi Wijebandara |
| 2017 | Paha Samath | Samath's mother |
| 2018 | Seya | IP Waruni Dissanayake |
| 2019 | Ginnen Upan Seethala | Doctor's Wife |
| 2019 | Weli Pawuru | Piyumi Ekanayake |
| 2019 | Suba Theraniyo | Sumana |
| 2019 | Reload | Princy |
| 2020 | Rookada Panchi | Rangi's mother |
| 2021 | Uthuru Sulanga | |
| 2021 | Jangi Hora | Nayani |
| 2022 | Happy Birthday | Nita Saparamadu |
| 2023 | Deweni Yuddhaya | |
| 2023 | Ape Principal | Principal |
| 2024 | Minnu | |
| 2025 | Rosa Adare | Anuj's mother |
| 2025 | Tentigo | father's mistress |
| TBA | Thanapathilage Gedara † | |
| TBA | Angara † | |
| TBA | Tharu Athara † | |
| TBA | Mama Nemei † | |
| TBA | Magam Soli † | |
| TBA | Pashchima Yamaya † | |