Chat with Asha Darshani

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Let me introduce myself.

I am Asha Darshani Withanage. I was born in Dehiwala. I currently live in Berella. I am 27 years old. I worked at Etisalat. But I have now left that and entered acting. I studied law for about two years. But I could not enter law school due to a few missing marks. I have been studying acting at Mahendra Perera Acting Workshop for two years now. These days I am doing acting and voiceover work.

You have not been in the field for a long time, right?

Yes... about two years. It has been two years since I joined Mahendra Perera Sir's class. That is when I got involved in acting.

Asha.. Are you a model? Or an actress?

I have participated in photo shoots. I did not target modeling. Because I am not a model. I wanted to be an actress. That's why I joined Mahendra Perera Sir's class. It was after that that I entered acting.

Talking about my first acting role

My first acting role was in Lal Priyadeva Sir's film Appata Siri. But it hasn't been released yet. That's why I can say that the first acting role I played was in the teledrama Sal Sapuna. In addition, I have also played in teledramas like Chakra, Adaara Asapuwa, Poya Nathya, and Sevaneli. I can also be seen playing the role of a music teacher in Priyantha Fernando's Ilandari Hendewa and Sripali Hettiarachchi's Kokila Vansaya. I have been invited to play in teledramas and films. You can find out about that in the future. These days, I am engaged in stage plays.

Are you not much interested in music videos?

I have no dislike... I have contributed to one music video so far. But I have no hope of moving forward with music videos.

Did Asha enter this field after studying? Or did the field come to you and you did the studying?

I entered acting only after I joined Mahendra Sir's class. Before that, I had not participated in any acting. I say that studying is definitely necessary. Many veteran actors entered the field without studying. But they had acting in their bodies. We look at them and still learn. While we look at them and learn, we need to study. I think what some people lose as soon as they come into this field is that they don't have any goals. They don't have a target to become an actor... If they have that target, they will learn. That's why I think we definitely need education. Because through that, we can learn a lot of our shortcomings. Actually, when I studied under Mahendra sir, I realized that even if we made a small mistake, we fix it. Today, because we are doing it here, we don't have to be afraid when we go to the location. But there is also this thing... No matter how much we study, we need to have art in our bodies. Without that, we cannot force art into our bodies.

Talking about the support from family

My mother, father, and my two sisters were the ones who helped me a lot in deciding to enter acting. They first helped me get here. And also to my brother, Lahiru Nishan, he was the one who laid the foundation for me to enter this field. Also, Seethan Gunawardena, Seethan still helps me a lot. Also, I would like to give my special thanks to Mahendra Perera teacher. I would like to say that without any hesitation anywhere. Because he fixes our shortcomings, we have brought here. We know that he will be with us in the future. There are many more people, not to mention names. Directors, producers, etc. So I would like to thank all of them.

Do you hope to become a professional actress? Or do you hope to engage in another profession?

No... My idea is to become a professional actress... I will not engage in any other profession. I have already said that I left Etisalat. Because if I am with acting, I will not be able to do any other profession. There are people who engage in acting, make a name for themselves and then engage in another profession. But in my opinion, it is better to act with another profession. In that case, acting should be kept part-time. Because I love and adore acting so much. That's why I won't enter any other profession. I am a professional actress.

Do you have a favorite side to acting? Or are you someone who plays any character that comes your way?

Here's how it goes... When I say actress, I think you should be able to play any character. But there are some characters, there's nothing wrong with the character... But when we act, there are limits to what we can show. That means there is a limit to what we can show in front of a camera. I like to portray any character within that limit. I also think a little about costumes. I like those with a lot of character. I like funny characters, serious characters, romantic characters, anything. But I like characters that have a lot of thought inside. It's not that I don't do other things. I like to play any character as long as it doesn't harm my character. I don't like to point fingers at certain characters. Some characters whose names are ugly have been around for a long time. Some characters... I won't mention them by name... because I don't have any personal grudge against any of them. That means I don't hesitate to do any role that doesn't harm my name or my parents' name. However, I have to do something within a certain limit.

What is the most memorable thing that happened in acting?

I was asked to come for shooting at six in the morning... I was asked to shoot at six in the evening and then at six thirty in the evening. Those are the unforgettable things.

In addition, it should be said here that in some locations, there is no pressure on a new actor or actress. However, when a new actor or actress comes to some locations, some people mentally break that new artist. That is a very ugly thing. In some locations, some people treat new actresses very poorly. They break the mind of that actor or actress. I am against that. Because today that new actress or actor can be in a good place tomorrow. Such mental breakdowns are very degrading. It is not without reason that some people leave acting for this reason.

Are you happy with where you are now?

Happy with what you have achieved in the short time you have come. But there is more to do.

Some people accuse the industry of collapsing because of newcomers.

There are two sides to it. It can happen because of some newcomers. This is also the case in the modeling industry. Because some people think that they do one photo shoot, one performance and then make big stories. Because of such people, both these industries are likely to collapse.

What do you think about love?

Love... is beautiful.. sometimes it brings sadness and sometimes it brings happiness. The love we receive from our parents can never be forgotten. I don't think that we can give the love that our parents give us to take care of for many years, I don't think that we will give someone we get to know in a day or two. There are people who really love and get married. But when I hear some of the stories those people tell after marriage, I get tired of married life.

Mmmmm... These days, I am a lover. I will tell you more later.

What do you think about school love... Do you have any experience with it?

I was not a girlfriend during my school days. But I have helped others in their love relationships. That is, I have been involved in intelligence work for love. But after I became a student leader at school, I stopped all this. I was elected student leader at both my school, Presbyterian Balika Vidyalaya and Nedimala Sri Khemananda Dhamma School. I worked as the head student leader at Khemananda Dhamma School. I think it is right to say that there were four main types of school lovers during that time. Because as a student leader, I opposed them. Because what I did was not to help such people. I reported such things to the principal. Because that was my scope. School love is really a very naive thing.

What is your opinion on social services through social media?

Some people really sincerely care for some institutions. If some people really help, there are times when they get dirty. On the one hand, it's good. They really help. Here, it's fifty-fifty. There's half a good thing... I also see a disadvantage on the other hand. I haven't participated in any social service through Facebook. Because of the lack of trust. We don't know... Even if a Facebook friend comes, we don't know if it's fake. We can't trust them. Even if we talk about something for work, we see a photo... We rarely send a photo through Facebook. We only send it to the most trusted person. More to people we don't know than to people we know on Facebook. But some institutions, one by one, media institutions do social service. I do help them. In addition, I haven't done social service through Facebook. But I do help personally.

I have met both good and bad people through social networks... How have your experiences been with that?

I have met both good and bad people through social networks... How have your experiences been with that? It's like this... Some people say they love us at first. Sometimes they say that and then when we don't respond, they threaten us. They scold us. There are times like that. I have met many people who make such threats. When we wear a short dress and post a photo, they think the wrong way about us. That's how it is in this society... In this society, when we wear a long dress and post a photo, they think that girl is important. But that's not even possible. You can't judge people by their clothes. That's how I see it. I'm not saying everyone. Many people do all the work they have to do with their bodies.

What is your opinion on politics?

I don't know if I will be picked up tomorrow by saying that....

There is no politics in Sri Lanka... I don't want to talk about it... There is no party division... I help one side because it is good... But I don't vote for anyone... There was a time when I did. Now I don't... There is politics in Sri Lanka. That politics, some people are talking about... They control their own pockets, not politics. So there is nothing to say beyond that... Some people are good... But good people have no way to come forward.. They don't say anything about politics... Because my parents need me.

What are my future hopes

I hope to contribute to good creations and show my talent. I have received invitations to many good creations so far. I hope to be involved in them. My hope in life is to become a good actress.