Shehani Kahandawala

Shehani Kahandawala, also known as ෂෙහානි කහඳවල in Sinhala, is a multifaceted talent in Sri Lankan entertainment. Born on February 24, 1995, she is an actress in Sri Lankan television, a television host, singer, and model.[1] Shehani initially started her career as a child television presenter and eventually gained popularity as one of the prominent actresses in the television industry through her roles in serials like Sujatha, Sanda Pini Wassa, and Sihini.[2][3]

Personal life
Shehani was born in Colombo as the only child in her family. Her father, Wasantha Kahandawala, and her mother, Thamara Perera, is a housewife. During her school days, she did not actively participate in drama or music activities, although she studied music as a subject up to the Advanced Level. She has a musical lineage, with her father and grandmother being skilled singers.[4][5]

Career
In 2013, Shehani embarked on her career as a freelance television presenter for TV Derana, hosting the children's program Trim Trim.[6] During the same period, she appeared in the music video "Oba Ma Hamuwuna Da" sung by Sashika Nisansala, which gained her considerable popularity among the public. She continued to feature in numerous music videos in the following years.[2] In the same year, she made her television acting debut in the serial Acid, directed by Chamara Janaraj Peiris, portraying the role of "Senuri".[8][9]

In 2015, Shehani was invited to join the television serial Sujatha as a replacement for Nehara Peiris, who previously played the title role. Shehani's portrayal of the character "Sujatha" garnered significant acclaim and propelled her acting career forward.[10][4] This serial marked a turning point in her career.[11][9] She went on to act in the serial Warna in 2016 and appeared in Sanda Pini Wassa in 2017, playing the role of "Madhavee".[2] During the same year, she also served as the host of the reality show Hiru Super Hero, aired on Hiru TV. Additionally, she joined the cast of the comedy serial Mal Hathai, portraying the character "Ashawari".[12]

In 2018, Shehani participated in season 2 of the reality show Hiru Mega Stars.[13] In the same year, she starred in two television serials, Nebaraya and Package.[5] In 2019, she became the official LUX ambassador for Sri Lanka and attended a workshop held in the United Kingdom. She also appeared in the music videos "Mihiravi" sung by Romesh Sugathapala and got the opportunity to feature in the Hindi song "Anjaana" sung by Bollywood singer Rajdeep Chatterjee.[14][15]

In 2020, Shehani took on the lead role in the television soap opera Sihini, playing the titular character.[16][17]