{{Short description|Sri Lankan actress (born 1987)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Anarkali Aakarsha | native_name = අනර්කලී ආකර්ෂා | image = Anarkali Ak.jpg | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = Anarkalli Janina Jayatilaka Aakarssha | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|7|12|df=y}} | birth_place = Colombo, Sri Lanka | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Actress, model, politician | years_active = 1995–present | website = {{URL|www.anarkalli.com}} | awards = Sarasaviya Most Popular Actress Award (2004), Presidential Award for performance in Anjalika (2005) Derena LUX Film award most popular actress (2012) & Miss Sri Lanka (2004) }}
'''Anarkali Akarsha''' ({{langx|si|අනර්කලී ආකර්ෂා}};born 12 July 1987 as '''Anarkali Janina Jayatilaka''') is a Sri Lankan actress, model, former politician and beauty pageant titleholder.<ref name=nfc>{{cite web|title=Anarkalli Aakarsha|url=http://www.nfc.gov.lk/artist/anarkalli-aakarsha-172/|access-date=10 September 2017|publisher=National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka}}</ref> She was crowned Miss Sri Lanka 2004 and represented Sri Lanka at the Miss World 2004 beauty pageant. She has worked as a brand ambassador & a fundraiser.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lkgirls.weebly.com/1/post/2008/12/anarkali-washing-a-car-car-wash.html|title = Anarkali washing a car (Car wash)}}</ref>
==Early life and education==
Akarsha attended Colombo International School.{{cn|date=April 2026}}
==Film career== Her first public opportunity to act came when Somaratne Dissanayake and Renuka Balasuriya, who directed and produced the teledrama ''Iti Pahan'' in 1995, were in search of a little girl who was fluent in English. In the drama, she performed the role of "Daisy Susan" beside renowned actress Vasanthi Chathurani.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lankalibrary.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=2675|title=Anarkalli in 'Iti Pahan'|publisher=Lankalibrary.com|access-date=2010-09-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607023736/http://www.lankalibrary.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=2675|archive-date=7 June 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
After a nearly seven-year hiatus, she returned to acting in 2003 when, at 15, she was cast in a lead role in ''Pissu Trible''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2004/01/25/fea17.html|title=Anarkalli Aakarsha in 'Sihinayak Pata Patin'|publisher=Sundayobserver.lk|date=2004-01-25|access-date=2010-09-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605182306/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2004/01/25/fea17.html|archive-date=5 June 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Subsequently, she performed in several successful movies, and received acclaim in teledrama performances with her roles as "Inoka" in ''Sihinayak Paata Paatin'' and 'Tanya' in ''Santhuwaranaya''.<ref>[http://sundaytimes.lk/061015/TV/tv25.html Anarkalli in 'Santhuwaranaya'] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110123045151/http://sundaytimes.lk/061015/TV/tv25.html |date=23 January 2011 }}</ref>
She is the youngest actress to date in the history of Sri Lankan Cinema to win the most popular actress award.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/hindi/movie-actress/anarkali-akarsha|title=Bollywood Movie Actress Anarkali Akarsha Biography, News, Photos, Videos|website=nettv4u}}</ref> She has acted as the leading lady in more than 22 movies and 10 teledramas. She also works as a model, brand ambassador and a presenter.<ref>[http://www.dailymirror.lk/2006/07/14/ft/26.asp Anarkalli – Brand Ambassador for Veet] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930225148/http://www.dailymirror.lk/2006/07/14/ft/26.asp |date=30 September 2007 }}</ref>
In 2019, Anarkalli Akarsha was adjudged amongst the Top Three Most Beautiful and Hottest Sri Lankan Actress and Model by N4M Media <ref>{{Cite web |last=N4M |first=Team |date=2019-11-20 |title=List Of Top Most Beautiful & Hottest Sri Lankan Actresses & Models |url=https://news4masses.com/top-most-beautiful-hottest-sri-lankan-actresses-models-n4m-list/ |access-date=2023-07-09 |website=N4M (News4masses) |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Political career== Anarkalli contested the Galle District at the 2009 Southern Provincial Council Election,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://srilankan-stars.blogspot.com/2009/08/anarkalli.html|title=Anarkalli for Southern Provincial Council Elections|publisher=Srilankan-stars.blogspot.com|date=2009-08-25|access-date=2010-09-08}}</ref> and on 29 October 2009, she was elected to the Southern Province Council.<ref>{{Cite journal |doi=10.1163/2210-7975_hrd-9970-0059|title=us-elected-to-un-human-rights-council-may-12-2009-1pp|journal=Human Rights Documents Online}}</ref> She is the youngest female councillor to date, and the sole female member on the council. {{Citation needed|date=September 2011}}
==Career as a host== Anarkalli hosted her own TV show 'Anarkali Live' on TV Derana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.derana.lk/show.php?prid=14|title=Show|publisher=Derana.lk|access-date=27 November 2010|archive-date=15 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215063123/http://derana.lk/show.php?prid=14|url-status=dead}}</ref> She also hosted Derana Music Awards 2010.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}} She hosted her own talk show, LIVE Sunday with Anarkalli on Swarnavahini.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}
==Personal life== Anarkalli currently lives in the US and hosts a Youtube channel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eonlinesrilanka.com/american-life-of-sri-lankan-actress-anarkali-akarsha/|title=American Life Of Sri Lankan Actress Anarkali Akarsha - E Online Sri Lanka|date=19 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.letsengage.com/talent/anarkalli-akarsha|title=ENGAGE - Anarkalli Akarsha|website=www.letsengage.com}}</ref>
== Filmography == {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" |- style="text-align:center;" ! Year !! Film !! Role !! Ref. |- | 2003 || ''Pissu Trible'' || Nisansala || |- | 2005 || ''One Shot'' || Sherry || |- | 2006 || ''Hiri Poda Wessa'' ||Veena|| |- | 2006 || ''Anjalika'' || Kavya|| |- | 2006 || ''Nilambare'' || Sherine || |- | 2006 || ''Eka Malaka Pethi'' ||Taniya || |- | 2006 || ''Sonduru Wasanthe'' || Anju || |- | 2007 || ''Sikuru Hathe'' || OIC's daughter|| |- | 2007 || ''Mr Dana Rina'' || || |- | 2008 || ''Tharaka Mal'' || Suranya || |- | 2009 || ''Sir Last Chance'' || Arti's fiancée || |- | 2010 || ''Mago Digo Dai''|| Rosy || |- | 2011 || ''King Hunther''|| Moreen || |- | 2011 || ''Ethumai Methumai''|| Teena || |- | 2013 || ''It’s a Matter of Love'' ||Natasha || <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2013/05/16/?fn=sa13051622 |title='ඉට්ස් අ මැටර් ඔෆ් ලව්' |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=1 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113102947/http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2013/05/16/?fn=sa13051622 |archive-date=13 November 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |- | 2015 || ''Sanjana''|| Sanjana || |- | 2016 || ''July 7''|| Anarkali || |- | 2019 || ''Sikuru Yogaya''|| Hiruni || <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2018/05/31/?fn=sa1805312 |title=Sikuru Yogaya coming tomorrow |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180605034500/http://www.sarasaviya.lk/2018/05/31/?fn=sa1805312 |archive-date=5 June 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |- | TBD || ''Sihina Lowak''||Main actress|| |}
== Teledramas ==
{| class="wikitable" style=" font-size:95%;" |- style=" text-align:center;" ! Year !! Film !! Role !! Other notes |- | 1995 || ''Iti Pahan'' ||Daisy Susan|| |- | 2004 || ''Sihinayak Paata Paatin'' ||Inoka|| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/040523/tv/3.html |title=Mohan Niyaz has a dream in Colour |publisher=The Sunday Times |access-date=11 March 2017}}</ref> |- | || ''Sapphire and Silk'' ||Tanya|| |- | 2004 || ''Isi Dasuna'' || || <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/041219/tv/4.html | title='Isi Dasuna': Portrays action & reaction| publisher=Sunday Times| access-date=10 May 2019}}</ref> |- | 2005 || ''Arunodaya Kalapaya'' |||| |- | 2006 || ''Santhuwaranaya'' ||Tanya|| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/061015/TV/tv25.html |title='Santhuwaranaya' : A story of sacrifice |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref> |- | 2007 || ''Kula Kumariya'' ||Suwimali|| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/060813/tv/tv3.html |title=Jane Eyre turns 'Kulakumariya' |publisher=Sunday times |access-date=7 December 2017}}</ref> |- | 2007 || ''Nethaka Maayavee'' |||| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070415/TV/003tv.html |title='Nethaka Maayavee' depicts drama on love and deception |publisher=Sunday Times |access-date=10 December 2019}}</ref> |- | 2009 || ''Sanda Sakki'' |||| |- | 2010 || ''Ran Thaliya Walauwa''||Dosatara nona|| |- | 2012 || ''Adariye'' |||| <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120226/Magazine/sundaytimestvtimes_4.html | title='Aadariye' comes on every week day | access-date=31 December 2019}}</ref> |- | 2012 || ''Saranganaa'' |||| <ref>{{cite web | url=http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2012/03/22/_art.asp?fn=sa12032211&pn=17 | title=සාරංගනා පුංචි තිරයට | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=15 August 2019}}</ref> |- | 2012 || ''Mini Muthu'' |||| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2012/04/05/_art.asp?fn=sa12040519&pn=20 |title=රෝෂන් මිණි මුතු සමඟ |publisher=Sarasaviya |access-date=29 March 2019}}</ref> |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *[https://www.anarkalli.com/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806234122/https://www.anarkalli.com/ |date=6 August 2018 }} *[http://www.films.lk/ArtistDetails.php?id=32 Anarkalli Aakarsha's Biography in Sinhala Cinema Database]
{{Miss World 2004 delegates}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akarsha, Anarkali}} Category:Sri Lankan television actresses Category:Sri Lankan film actresses Category:Sri Lankan female models Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:Miss World 2004 delegates Category:Members of the Southern Provincial Council Category:Sri Lankan beauty pageant winners Category:Alumni of Colombo International School Category:20th-century Sri Lankan actresses