Kamal Addararachchi

Kamal Addararachchi (born Addararachchige Gunendra Kamal on February 5, 1962) is an award-winning Sri Lankan film and teledrama actor, singer and presenter. He made his debut as an actor in Gamini Fonseka's 1981 film Sagarayak Meda, when he was a still a student at school. Since the late 1970s, he has appeared in a variety of roles in many films and teledramas. Addararachchi, who has acted in over 40 films, 20 teledramas and 6 stage plays up to now[3], won the Sarasaviya Best Actor Award for his role of Sobana in Agnidahaya in 2002.

He also made a mark as a singer in 1993 with "Unmadawoo," a duet between him and Damayanthi Jayasooriya featured in the film, "Saptha Kanya." He is also the host of the Sirasa Superstar contest - a reality show.

Background

Addararachchige Gunendra Kamal, who was born to a family of gem merchants, had his entire education at Wesley College, Colombo.

He showed an initial interest in artistic work, and this prompted him to do music, sinhala literature, Kandyan Dancing and debating, all at the same time. He even worked as the secretary of the 'Sinhala Literary Society' at school.

He is married to Anurani Addararachchi and has one son.

Career

Addararachchi, who broke in to the silver screen with Gamini Fonseka's Sagarayak Meda rose in to immense popularity with hits such as Saptha Kanya. He is noted for his performances in films such as Saptha Kanya by late H.D. Premaratne, Agnidahaya by Jayantha Chandrasiri and teldramas like Hiruta Muvaven by Herbert Ranjith Peiris, Rathu Rosa by Ranjan De Silva, and Weda Hamine and Dandubasna Maanaya by Jayantha Chandrasiri.

His performance on the mini screen for Dandubasna Maanaya was twice rewarded at the inaugural Sumathi Tele Awards ceremony in 1995, when he picked up, both, the award for the Best Supporting Actor as well as the Most Popular Actor Award that year.

Controversy

Controversy has surrounded Addararachchi over the years ranging from accusations of rape to murder.

His one-time fiancee Ramani Bartholomeusz who was a former beauty queen was found murdered under suspicious circumstances in 1987, and Addararachchi was charged with the murder. He was acquitted subsequently. In 1997 he was accused of the abduction and rape of a young girl. He was briefly jailed, but freed on appeal. In 2002, Addararachchi was again accused and convicted of imprisoning and raping a teenage girl. He was sentenced to ten years in jail by a High Court judge; this decision was also overruled.