"I am not connected to the arts in America ... am doing a YouTube channel" -- Anarkali Akarsha

"I am not connected to the arts in America ... am doing a YouTube channel" -- Anarkali Akarsha

Anarkali Akarsha who was a popular actress for sometime and had visited Sri Lanka from America to get involved with the wedding ceremony of member of parliament Namal Rajapaksa happened to reveal her latest information to a newspaper. That description is as follows:

* Isn't it after sometime that Anarkali visited Sri Lanka?

  Yes ... I have come to Sri Lanka after about three years. 

* Did you come to Sri Lanka after sometime with any particular plan in mind?

  I came with the intention of attending the wedding of Namal Rajapaksa. Namal from that time was a good friend of mine. When invited for his wedding can't wait without accepting it. It was a moment that all of us were awaiting. So thought of definitely attending Namal's wedding. 

* Sometime back a film in which you acted was screened. But when it was screened ... why were you not present in Sri Lanka?

  Nobody asked me to be present specially at the premier show as such. The premier show of that film was planned suddenly. As I am living far away also ... if I had to come to Sri Lanka I have to do so after making arrangements in advance as such. Therefore it was not possible to attend the premier show. 

* You may have met your old colleagues after coming to Sri Lanka ... didn't you? 

  Yes ... met many old friends after coming down here. Nobody has changed. Everybody maintains the past connections as before. I have friends in all fields. I value every friend because I have learned something from every one of them. They have encouraged me. 

* Anarkali is a popular artiste in Sri Lanka. You had a good demand where creations were concerned. When such a demand was available you got married and left Sri Lanka. Don't you have even a wee bit of sadness about it?

  Actually not a wee bit but a big sadness. But I had to take a decision of leaving Sri Lanka. As everybody in our family is in America I had to go to America. But I always think about Sri Lanka. A lot of fans are asking, "Akki, aren't you coming to Sri Lanka to act in a film?" That is why I started a 'Anarkali Live' YouTube channel. I started that YouTube channel with the thought of giving something or the other across it to my fans wherever I am in the world. 

* Though not in Sri Lanka, it looks like nobody has forgotten Anarkali?

  Yes ... It is a great fortunate thing. I get across to my audience through social media. Therefore I get a big response from many. But when I came to Sri Lanka I felt that love a great deal. Some say things just to make you feel happy, no. However after arriving in Sri Lanka I realised that a lot of people love me. At the same time they said that they felt my absence. When I go to any place ... everybody welcomes me with a lot of love. Sometimes tears start welling in my eyes for that love. I can't imagine how I get so much love that way. 

* Retaining you in their thoughts is in one way a kind of fortune. isn't it?

  Certainly so. In Sri Lanka the people are so loving. Because there is love, kindness in the hearts of Sri Lankans ... if someone's heart is attracted to some person ... definitely it won't fade away easily. I an fortunate in being a recipient of that sort of love from everybody. I on the other hand have an unbelievable love for Sri Lanka. 

I am indeed so proud in being a Sri Lankan. Though anybody can dismiss me from his or hr mind ... none has done so. I don't feel that I am not in Sri Lanka ... the responses that I receive so much, I feel. Everyone welcomed me with a lot of love without any discrimination ... definitely true. I am really lucky. 

* The life you lead in America ... haven't you left any room for any work dealing with the arts?

  It took some time to get familiarized with America ... because it is an entirely different country. Now I have my independency. So I have no fear. So because of that I now try to attend to my work. But that is not in any activity relating to the arts. I have got opportunities in Sri Lanka to display my performing skills across many aspects. It is a different competition in America. What I look for is to give to society something different. I try to take to the world through the YouTube channel by discussing with persons who have been accepted by the world as to how they achieved success. I need to encourage the public to gain victory in life. 

As I have felt, people are sent astray by some teledramas and films. They sell the lives of people. It is nice to spend a life of luxury. But those things are temporary. I engage in a dialogue with exemplary characters and try to convey their ideas to the young generation. I hope to carry out the process of work across the YouTube channel and by helping society. 

* Anarkali Live maybe getting a good response? 

  Yes ... the responses I receive are really high. A lot of people watch those programmes. The audience realise the change I have made and when I go ahead with what I can do, I get a lot of responses saying. "Shah ... this is really different ... something of an international status!" I am really happy about it. 

* Did you get any invitations for any creative activities after you came to Sri Lanka?

  Yes ... I got an invitation to get involved in a film. I was to get involved at the time I was in Sri Lanka. But the producer of that film was faced with a problem. Therefore that film was postponed for the following year. 

* If Anarkali gets the chance of getting involved in cinematic creations of Sri Lanka in the future, would you care to allocate time for it?

  Definitely. But a change has to be made. I like to act in films which has a noticeable difference having a challenge without the characters I portrayed earlier. 

* Will you Anarkali remain in America permanently? Will you not come to reside in Sri Lanka?

  We can't say anything with sure. Life means something that keeps on flowing. As human beings we try to control that life. But still for all there are instances where there are things which are beyond our control. Sometimes I may come and live in Sri Lanka. If not I may migrate to another country. Who knows what will happen? I work and face life day by day. 

* When you are in America do you enjoy creations of Sri Lanka?

  As there is a time difference Live telecasts are hardly seen by me. Listen to a lot of songs. I listen to my most favourite songs by inserting those in my phone. If I get a chance I watch Dhathangadagna programmes. I f course don't get a chance of seeing films. Not a Sri Lankan film ... even a Bollywood film I couldn't watch recently. It is difficult to adjust time to watch such a creation in America. 

* Shall we talk about the life that you Anarkali is leading in married life?

  Married life is good. A lot of people think that being married means a great big difference. It is the wedding that is the difference in marriage, Marriage is just a part of life. Just because I got married, I have not changed as such. 

In Asian countries it is said, "Ah ... he/she is married no ..." as if that person's life is over. But those in America think otherwise. Though married they live their lives in the normal way and nobody thinks of getting old or if a person is fat or if a person is has become dark in complexion ... they don't speak about such matters. One can go to any place and live being accepted there. 

One is treated equally whether one is wealthy or has little money, That was extremely special to me. There's no difference in that country whether even if you are married. A woman is treated alike whether a woman is young or old. It is Asian countries that a division is made that one is to be married ... one is married. The point about making one's own life nice or not depends on you. 

* Anarkali ... you have lived in Sri Lanka as well as foreign countries. Which culture do you prefer to live in?

  I like to live within my culture. Whether I am in Sri Lanka or in America I decide on a method of living. I have proved that in Sri Lanka too. Now there are many small Anarkalis in Sri Lanka. I didn't try to be somebody else. But some are trying to be like me. I am someone who always created my own things ... my fashions, the way I think ... my way. 

Since America is a country with a big difference it took me sometime to face that country. I am not a person who likes to follow others. I always think about my happiness ... my own facilities. Most people try very hard to become like others. There's no point in that. What counts most is one's own identity. One should all the time protect one's own identity. If that is lost ... everything will be lost for that person. 

* Do you think that one should live the way one wants?

  Yes ... Though I say that, I don't mean that one should go to a temple and stay there the way one wants. But when something. We should know to have everything balanced while maintaining one's own identity and to consider his or her happiness as his or her responsibility. That way it will be alright. 

* Will you be coming to Sri Lanka again in the near future?

  If work in the film already discussed is started ... I will be coming to Sri Lanka towards the beginning of next year.

- Thilini Kaushalya Wijeysingha -