Sabeetha Perera


Warnakulasuriya Uswaththa Liyanage Sabeetha Janaki Perera is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema and old Lollywood cinema of Pakistan. She is the most successful female superstar of the '80s and '90s in Sinhala cinema. Sabeetha has received a number of awards for her acting, including the Sarasaviya [Best Actress Award|Sarasaviya], OCIC, Presidential and the Swarna Shanka.

Personal life

Sabeetha was born on 1 December 1962 as the third of the four daughters to famous actor and director Anthony Stanley Perera and famous actress Girley Gunawardana. She has two elder sisters - Sandya, Sadna and one younger sister, Chandima. They lived in their mother's hometown, Mount Lavinia in early days and attended Visakha Montessori for primary education and then Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo. After few years, they moved to their father's home town Wennappuwa and completed her secondary education from Holy Family Convent, Wennappuwa.
She is married to Upali Jayasinghe, the managing director of D.P. Jayasinghe and the company.

Acting career

Sabeetha started her cinema career at the age of 3 years, when he played the role of daughter in her own father's film Ivasana Dana. Then she acted as the daughter of her own mother in the film Hathara Kendaraya. After the role in Yasapalitha Nanayakkara's film `Rosy, Sabeetha staged Pakistani film career. The Sinhala titled Sadaakal Randeva which was based on the novel Never say Good Bye screened in Pakistan as Kabi Al Vidana Kena. The film became a blockbuster hit in both countries as well. This induced Pakistani film makers to introduce Sabeetha for further Pakistani films and she completed 17 Urdu films at the end.
Sabita joins Pakistani cinema in 1986 to win Best Actress at the Alsakar Film Festival in Pakistan that same year for her Urdu film Nadiya. After her first Pakistani film Sadaakal Randeva, she then acted many Pakistani films such as Nadiya, Zameen Aur Aasman, Sabke Baap, Mashbu, Aagh Hi Aagh, Ruby, Donkaraya, Ayya Nago, Sebaliyo, Okkoma Hawul and Chandi Kello. Some of these are collaborated production works by Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Sabeetha won most popular award at Pakistan film festival for her role in the film Bobby. She also awarded with Al-Shakar Award for the Best Actress at the festival for her role in film Nadiya.
The first dramatic role of Sabeetha came through the film Deveni Gamana. For the role, she was awarded with Best Actress at the 1985 Sarasaviya Awards. Then her critically acclaimed roles came through Viragaya and Sisisa Gini Gani films. The role Bathee in Viragaya and Annette in Sisila Gini Gani are rated as the best ever roles played by Sabeetha.
Though she actively engaged in cinema industry more often, she also acted few television serials, such as Ran Kahawanu, Pitagamkarayo, Esala Kaluwara, Akala Sandya and Bharyawo. Sabeetha also acted in the stage drama Age Nama Rathi.

Filmography

YearNo.FilmRoleRef.
1967157Hathara KendareDaughter
1967174Iwasana DanaDaughter
1968KannadaGoa Dalli CID 999
1977379Tom PachayaYoung Chaminda
1979TamilNangooramMeena
1980464SabeethaSabeetha
1981500Bangali WalaluYaso
1982505SandaSanda
1982510Sakvithi SuwayaViolet
1982519Sanasanna Ma
1982526Kiri SuwandaSecretary
1982537ParamithaChammi
1982539Nawatha HamuwemuNeetha
1983545ChandiraChandira
1983549Siv Ranga Sena
1983560Hasthi ViyaruwaYaso
1983571Monara Thenna 2
1984580Adare GeethayaIresha
1984581Deveni GamanaSujatha
1984592Podi Ralahami
1984PakistaniBobby
1984598Ammai Duwai
1984605Ara SoysaShanthi
1985612Mihidum SaluSumedha
1985616Araliya MalNangi
1985617Raththaran Kanda
1985633Sadakal Randewa
1985620Channai Kello Dennai
1985626Rosy
1985634Kiri Maduwal
1986635Yali HamuwennaiRanji
1986641DushyanthiDushyanthi
1987654Hitha Honda ChandiyaKusala
1987658Podi Wije
1987663Kawuluwa
1987667ViragayaBathee
1987669Dhonkaraya
1988671Rasa RahasakRuvini
1988672Ayya Nago
1988684Wana Rajina
1989685Mamai RajaRuwanika
1989695Sebaliyo
1989691Nommara 17Vasanthi / Vasanthi's mother
1990697Dase Mal Pipila
1990698Thanha AshaLalani
1990711Chandi Raja
1991717Uthura DakunaSabeetha
1991723Obata Pamanai Adare
1991730Love In BangkokRoshen, Shalika
1991734Cheriyo DoctorSurangi
1991739Bambara Kalpaya
1991743Sisila Gini GaniAnnette
1992746Raja DaruwoSharine Jayasekara
1992747Bajar Eke Chandiya
1992749Sakvithi Raja
1992750Sakkara Suththara
1992753Chandi Rajina
1992758Okkoma KanapitaManika
1992765Sinhayangeth SinhayaNeetha
1992767Rajek Wage Puthek
1993768Ottui Baruwata
1993769ChayaChaya Jayasinghe
1993776Sasara Sarisarana Thek Oba Mage
1993778Surayan Athara VeerayaNirmala
1993780Come O Go ChicagoMali
1993784Bambasara Bisaw
1993791Madara Parasathu
1994PakistaniZameen AasmaanSabeetha
1994804Sujatha
1994813AthmaAthma / Subha
1994818Hello My Darling
1994PakistaniSab Ke Baap
1995829Wairayen Wairaya
1995823Chandi Kello
1995830Demodara PalamaManori
1995832Chitti
1995839Cheriyo CaptainVaruni
1996852Veediye Veeraya
1996855Saba Mihtura
1996Mana MohiniMohini 'Sangeetha' / Rajiv's Aunt
1996854Bawa Sasara
1997EnglishBlendings
1997TamilIsai Payanam
1998896Vimukthi
1999925Mandakini
1999927Okkoma Kapatiyo
2000942Sanda YahanataViveka
2001950Oba Koheda PriyeNilmini and Nimmi
2001951Oba Magema WewaPoornaa
2002993SathkampaKumari
20031002Vala In LondonNayomi
20071091Hai Master
20081111AbaPrincess Unmaada Chithra
20091120Dancing Star
2010Kawulu Dora
20151233Maharaja AjasathKosala Devi
20151238Address NaMudukkuwe Sandya

Awards

Sarasavi Awards

Presidential Awards

Derana Sunsilk Film Awards

Pakistani Film Corporation