Pooja Umashankar : A Beautiful Rose in Full Bloom - An Article from Esteem Magazine
Pooja Umashankar is a name synonymous with Sri Lankan cinema and she has now become an essential part of the silver screen. Her presence on and off screen is very captivating and she has been fascinating millions ever since her entry into the film industry back in 2003. She made her debut with ‘Anjalika’ (2006) and also starred in ‘Aasai Man Piyambanna’ (2007), ‘Suwanda Denuna Jeewithe’ (2010), ‘Kusa Paba’ (2012) and several television dramas. This lovely lady wasn’t the easiest to get a hold of because of her busy schedule and also the fact that she was feeling under the weather at the time (get well soon, Pooja!) but she graciously made time for us.
We were impressed by how genuine she was and her down to earth attitude. With that sunshiny smile, she’s one of those amazing people who can light up a room just by walking into it. Her attitude of gratitude for who she is and everything she has achieved is very inspirational and there something very refreshing about her take on beauty and life. “God has been and is very good to me. He has given me a life filled with peace and joy. I love my life and I’m blessed to have everything I possess,” she told us. When asked if she had anything new to tell us, she revealed that she has a new film by the name of ‘Paththini’ up for release very soon, which is something we can all look forward to.
Her Secret to Looking Beautiful
We asked her how she manages to look so ravishingly beautiful and she said, “As much as outward beauty is vital, I know that what makes everyone on earth so beautiful comes to a large extent from the inside too. Mine is not a secret and I keep sharing this truth with everyone that asks me this question. A beautiful heart, mind and soul combined with the awesome spirit given by God is the glorious secret to what makes me, you and everyone else attractive.”
The Bucket List
Nearly everybody has one and we were curious about Pooja’s; she told us that she used to have a bucket list and realized that as she grew older it kept changing. But the only constant among the many variables was her desire to become a better human being than what she was the previous second. She added that she had come to realize that in her endeavour to become a better version of herself, her bucket list has had a renovation of sorts. When asked to reveal more, she smiled mischievously and said “Guess we should leave that for another interview for another day!”
Her Greatest Joy and Satisfaction
Pooja told us that what brings her the most joy and satisfaction in her life is unconditional love. “There is something very awe-inspiring about selfless and sacrificial love; not just with a partner, but even with family and friends, the best gift that we can give any of them is a love that has no barriers and this is what brings me the greatest joy and satisfaction,” she said.
The Best Gift That Any Woman Can Give Herself
“Women are extraordinary and unique; I believe that everyone woman should not just once, but on a daily basis love herself first,” Pooja stated. “It is very necessary that she understands that she is the most precious and valuable and that she had been created beautifully and wonderfully. She needs to do things because she wants to do them, not because she believes she has to do them. She needs to realise that she has an amazing capacity to withstand the good and the bad, she has the capabilities to create, nurture, nourish, care, guide, teach, protect and lead her family and friends into greatness. Once any woman is aware of this, there are no limits to what she can achieve, because this in itself is empowerment for her to attain everything she wants in her life.”
Heroes, Gifts and Special People
“Jesus Christ is my forever Hero,” said Pooja. “And in my future it will surely be my husband because he’s someone I admire and look up to! This I am 100% sure of,” she said laughing. She tells us that the best gift she has ever received is the gift of Life because it has opened up a million opportunities to experience God’s love. “Life is precious and should be cherished and we must make the most of every day as every sunrise brings us new opportunities to show the love of God to others around us,” she said. “I am so grateful that I have opportunities to show unconditional love to everyone I meet!” As for people who inspire her, she revealed that her family and a few close friends are very special and inspire her daily and they have seen her through it all. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without them and I’m the lucky one to have them all in my life,” she smiled.
On Her Bookshelf
“Definitely the Bible…it goes without saying; also at the moment a couple of scripts for a Sinhala film.” Pooja informed us. We asked if there is anything about her that people didn’t know and would be surprised to know if they did, she said, “Basically, I am an open book. Everyone knows everything about me because I am a very friendly and cheerful person and it’s not difficult to become friends with me. But if there is anything new that comes up, you can be rest assured I will let you know!” she said with a melodious laugh.
The Best Advice
Answering our question about the best advice that she has ever received, she stated, “To plant a seed…to nurture it and look after it. To make sure that it sprouts and grows into a deep rooted tree that bears fruits that I can eat of...the fruit of Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control. And once I have my fill, I am advised to share it with all around. I doubt anyone or anything can trump that advice.”
Future Plans
I have never been the type of person to plan too far ahead and always believe in the saying ‘one day at a time’. Infinite patience yields glorious results and going with the flow of things usually delivers anyone to the place they want to be. My future is in God’s hands and He plans my way so I can rest assured that He will light up my path,” she concluded with a lovely smile.
