Sri Lanka’s Dinara Punchihewa, has been recognized by Forbes as one of the 300 young entrepreneurs, leaders, and trailblazers in the Asia-Pacific region in its ninth edition of the “30 Under 30 Asia” list, in the entertainment and sport category.
All individuals on this list are under 30 and are spearheading industry transformations while pioneering innovative approaches to address evolving business landscape in the region.
Dinara made her mark on the Sri Lankan cinema scene in 2018 with her multifaceted talents in writing, acting, and directing her own short film, ‘Maala’.
The film garnered attention at international film festivals, leading acclaimed Sri Lankan filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage to cast her in ‘Gaadi – Children of the Sun’ (2019). Since then, she has contributed to four other films.
A graduate of Queen Mary University of London, Punchihewa went on to set up ‘Punchi Actors’, a non-profit organization dedicated to introducing theater and acting to children from underprivileged backgrounds.
Amidst this life changing news, Dinara is enjoying the wonders of motherhood and is immersed in a world of love and support. We reached out to Dinara to talk about this big honour and here’s what we found out;
Q: How is your career and new motherhood going hand in hand?
A: Last year, I dedicated myself to hard work, and I’m elated and proud that my efforts have been acknowledged. Amidst this, I’m reveling in the joys of motherhood with my two-month-old baby, cherishing every moment. The unwavering support of my husband, along with the love and assistance from my parents and siblings, makes this journey incredibly smooth and fulfilling. I’m immensely grateful for their presence, which makes this experience truly enjoyable.
Q: Let’s talk about 30 under 30, how do you feel about this recognition?
Dinara Punchihewa | Pix: Malaka Mp
A: Being acknowledged for my hard work is truly incredible and fills me with immense gratitude and joy. What’s even more special is that I’m not the sole Sri Lankan on this list this year, which amplifies the pride of representing our nation globally. Inclusion in the entertainment and sports category further emphasizes the recognition of dedication and effort.
It’s a remarkable feeling to see my efforts acknowledged and celebrated alongside other talented individuals, and I cherish the opportunity to showcase the excellence of Sri Lanka on an international platform.
Q: What does this recognition mean for the future of your career?
A: It gives me a sense of pride and accomplishment. It makes me very grateful for the experiences I’ve had so far and the people I’ve met along the way and had the privilege to learn from and work with. It also makes me want to work even harder than ever.
I hope to keep doing the films I’m doing, push barriers and play characters that sit in people’s minds and be a part of projects that make me do so. I also wish to continue to share my knowledge with children from all walks of life and all backgrounds.
By expanding Punchi Actors and reaching out to more communities in Sri Lanka, I want to be able to share my passion for acting with others, and give them the platform to nurture their interests in the performing arts.
Q: Would you like to do more work in international entertainment?
A: I most definitely do. I have some work lined up and I am very excited for it.
Q: How do you define success in entertainment?
A: I believe acting is an extension of myself and acting is reacting. I believe I think in order to succeed you need to enjoy yourself with the work you do. AlsoI don’t take my success too seriously and I don’t take my failures too seriously either, that way I can remain grounded and focus on my work.
Q: What do you think about the contemporary youth talent in the entertainment industry?
A: I think we have an amazing pool of talent right now, in cinema, in television and even in English thearte. but I believe in comparison platforms to showcase talent are rather limited in Sri Lanka. But there is a big change in the manner in which people consume entertainment especially with social media.
People are going to watch stage dramas more and more now, people who generally don’t watch Sinhala films now do.
Q: What do you think are the most important qualities you should have to become a character-based actor?
A: I believe the most important quality is to be able to live in the skin if the character.
I think it is important to do your research, read up on the characters and to know that acting is reacting. I believe if one wants to do it one should be immersed in that world.
It is also important to be exposed to different content with different languages of film, different genres and acting styles. You can also incorporate styles like method acting to really live in the character. I believe it is important to take each character as a new project and give it your all.
Q: How do you handle the social media frenzy and still make the right choices to keep up with her carrier expectations?
A: In today’s digital age, social media simplifies connecting and showcasing talents. Maintaining a presence on these platforms has enabled me to keep my audience updated on my career journey, garnering invaluable support online, for which I’m deeply thankful.
The accessibility of social media facilitates meaningful connections and allows for sharing achievements and aspirations effortlessly. It’s heartening to witness the encouragement and engagement from followers, affirming the significance of digital platforms in fostering community and advancing professional endeavors.
Q: Do you have any new movies, projects coming up?
A: I actually have two films coming up this year, one is ‘PeacockLament’, it is a story about baby farms in Sri Lanka and the other one is ‘Ashen cloud’, to be released this year. Finally, Dinara took a moment to thank Forbes for this honour and expressed that she is very grateful and thankful for her family, including her parents, siblings and husband.
“It is wonderful to have an amazing support system, to have people to fall on, people who do not judge you for your failures and mistakes. I am also extremely grateful to people who watch my movies, critique it and support me in every way possible,” she added.
