JACKSON'S SON INTRODUCES HIS GIRLFRIEND AMANDA

Jackson's son introduces his lover

     Akila Dhanuddara, son of distinguished artiste Jackson Anthony has now embarked on the field of acting. Nilukshi Amanda is the girl Akila is hoping to marry and the would be daughter-in-law of Jackson is also a model and tele-actress, Nilukshi Amanda. She presently acts in a teledrama called Medagedera.

     Akila who is to act a main role in the film Siriperakum which is to be screened in future expresses his ideas to the Meewitha supplement issue of Divaina revealing facts about his lover.

* Aren't you mostly in the news these days with the cinema creation of Siriperakum?
  I got an invitation from Mr.Somaratna Dissanayaka who is a supreme director who has contributed gigantic creations to Sri Lankan cinema.I can never turn down that request. I who was thinking that I would never get involved with the cinema had to discard that idea because of this great man. It is indeed a grat happiness to work with a person of his calibre.

*How are the responses that you now get?
 So far no one had begun to talk anything bad to my face as such (smiling).
 Everyone says good.

*Do you think that you did justice to it?
 I see my faults very clearly.

*Father Jackson Anthony ..... what does he say about the son's abilities?
 Before this I wasn't involved in these things. The biggest change that took place  in my life in the past year was Amanda. She was in this field before me. When I  associate with someone like that, both our ideas too blend. I couldn't so far get  ahead because of a lack in the push I got. I recovered that lost courage. My  father encouraged me to a large degree to put me on this track. I was able to  fulfil my father's wish because of Amanda.

*Do you mean to say that your lover Amanda made you come into the field of 
 Arts?
 Yes ... I can say so.

*What do you think about her abilities?
 I am satisfied. Her abilities are different from the average person.

*Aren't you against what Amanda says or does?
 Why should I be against?

*Is it okay if she engages herself in acting?
 That's a question that so many ask. Some try to find out whether there's any  reason for Jackson Anthony's daughter-in-law becoming an actress. A girl becomes an actress or model only in the performance. Whether she is a good person or bad person should be judged from the way she leads her private life.

*Do you think your judgment is correct?
 Definitely.

*What does your mother and father say about your selection?
 With she coming into my life, my life changed a lot. For that my home people were very happy. What they say is that I have done what they couldn't.

*Amanda is like a member of the family.
 Yes. My mother's second daughter.

*In what way did your father's popularity influence all this?
 Father being Jackson Anthony was both good and bad for me. People might  expect a Jackson Anthony through me. That's a bad disadvantage to me. The  other thing is that I can't do wrong things.


LIKE AKILA, WE INVITED AMANDA ALSO TO HAVE A CHAT WITH US

*Amanda ... by now what are your activities like?
 As usual I engage myself in modelling-work. In the same way I attend shooting in the Medagedera drama.

*Akila says that Amanda encouraged him to get into the cinema.
 Whenever he gets something to do, what he always says is that 'it was because of      you that I did this'.

*What do you Amanda think of Akila's abilities?
 Whenever he does something, he does it to the maximum level. There's nothing that he can't do.

*Who is the most popular of you two?
 I think it's Akila. I can't go with him on the road. People talk with him with a sense    of great love.

*Isn't Akila against what you say and do?
 Not even a little. On most occasions he encourages me.

*Hasn't Akila watched your performances?
 He has ..... but I have put some limits to him.

*Reasons?
 Because I can't do my work when he's around. There's a small discomfort. When I think of him I can't do my own work properly. I am someone who isn't afraid of where I am performing. But one ... and only one day I nearly had a fall in front of him. After that day I never allow him to watch my shows. Definitely he stays at the back.

*Is it because he is the son of a popular character that you liked Akila?
 No ... not because of that. We came to a decision after a long discussion. It was without knowing who he was that I started this affair.

Dinesh Vithana
 Pics - Nandun Baduge
 Background -- Threshing floor of BMICH
 Dress - Barefoot