Film actress Sonali who uses wheelchair prematurely!

Film actress Sonali who uses wheelchair prematurely!

Anusha Sonali who created various roles etching her name in memory lanes of the tele-screen and the cinema for a period of time at a later stage was subjected to have been involved in all types of activities of moral misconduct, according to various news items. She was behind bars too at one time. News about Anusha Sonali marrying an estate superintendent after that was published by us. It has been exposed by a weekend newspaper that it is Anusha's mother and her only son who keeps company for her
today.  It is Anusha's son who cares for both Anusha and the mother, it is reported.

"There were numerous rumours which spread around me during the past. I don't say that all those weren't baseless allegations ... some among those are true. But now my son is aged 19 years. As such, I can't mention everything to a newspaper.

As long as the male folk make blunders ... the women folk too get involved in misconduct. I had a good period as an actress. I received invitations for films and tele-dramas. But our private life created an influence on our vocation. There were a lot of jerks in our private life. Though I married twice and they grabbed my things, there wasn't anything that I received from them. During this time so many conflicting issues were targetted at our lives. Like this, when life was shaky this way ... life turned in a different direction. With that, my life with the Arts also began to drift apart. 

Both I and mother suffer from malfunctioning of muscles. Mother of course can't get to the wheelchair from bed. Someone has to carry her and keep her on the wheelchair. I of course can manage to catch hold of something and get to the wheelchair. It was about 4 years back that I  noticed the initial symptoms. First of all muscles in my legs became inactive. What I experienced first was difficulty to walk and tendency to fall. During that time I had a fall. After falling I suffered a fracture of one of my legs. Treatment was taken for it. But now the part below my hip has gone numb. All activities like domestic-work  and cooking matters I do while seated in the wheelchair. 

I am now in a rented out house. If I won't be able to pay rent ... it's to the road that I have to go. Those who look from without, imagine that actors, actresses spend a luxurious life ... but only we know how much is paid to actors and actresses in our country. Even at the time I was at the apex of my career as an actress I hadn't drawn a big sum of money by acting. There's nothing that I have saved either. Kelum, Priyantha, Sanoja Vinoja, Sunil T. Sir, Mr. Jayantha Dharmadasa have helped me. Not only to pay rent, but even to have day-to-day meals it has come to a stage where help has to be solicited from others. 

My son Rehan Deelaka studied at S. Thomas' College. Has got through the Ordinary Level  well. But couldn't send him to the Advanced Level exam because of financial problems. You may not believe that a child who studied in a school like that after passing the O/Levels had to abandon further schooling without sitting for the A/Levels because of financial issues. But that's our fate. Today it's not possible to find him a job because of mother's and my work. At times I think that ... if only both of us perish ... he would build up a future for himself. Son is 19 years old. 5 feet, 9 inches tall. I like to make him an actor. But of course I have no connections with the field of arts now no. 

I have already appealed to the Hon. President and Hon. Mr. Premadasa to provide me with a house. Even if there's no electricity, it's enough if we get a house with 2 rooms to stay just by lighting a lamp. Can sleep then even with hunger ... no. Can't say how the future is going to be like. If there's nothing to do ... what is left for me to do now is to take my life.

Discussion -- Ariyawansha Kulatilleka (Lakbima)

Photos -- Manjula Perera