Paboda Sandeepani

Rashmini Paboda Sandeepani Pathirana, popularly known as Paboda Sandeepani, is a Sri Lankan actress. She has appeared on television, in films, and theatre performances. She was born on January 16, 1982, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. She is the daughter of Sri Lankan actress and dubbing artist Geetha Kanthi Jayakodi. Paboda Sandeepani completed her schooling at St. Joseph’s Balika and St. Paul’s Milagiriya. She began acting in teledrama Yashorawaya with her mother at age five, followed by Bopath Sakkiya. The teledrama, directed by Satischandra Edirisinghe and written by K.B Herath, explores the story of people who dedicate their lives to their community.

Paboda Sandeepani also acted alongside her mother in Adarawanthayo, aired in 2001. Her official career in Sinhala cinema began with an uncredited role in Sanda Yahanta (2000), directed by Mohan Niyaz. Her breakthrough into the film industry was with Bahubuthayo, a 2001 film directed by Udayakantha Warnasuriya, in which she played a journalist caught between two men. Other films followed, such as Wekande Walauwa in 2002, produced by Lester James Peries, Suseema (2011), directed by Rohan Weliwita, Super Six (2012), directed by Udara Palliyaguruge, and Yathra (2018), directed by Christy Shelton Fernando.

She has acted in all three instalments of Udayakantha Warnasuriya’s Bahubuthayo series, including Gindari: Bahubuthayo 2 (2015) and Gindari 2: Bahubuthayo 3 (2022), in which she plays Tikiri. She is also known for performing in Sri Lankan teledramas, starting with Eranga Senaratne’s Adarawanthayo and Boppath Sakkiya. Paboda Sandeepani acted in Boralu Para on the Rupavahini channel, Dedunu Tanaya on CTV, Mal Hatha on Hiru TV, and Tharupaba on Swarnavahini. She starred in Ekas Ginna, directed by Chandrasiri, Gini Dalu Meda, directed by Mohan Niyas, Mage Kaviya Mata Denna, directed by Jayalath Manoratne, Kasee Salu, written by Daya Rajapakshe, Mayura Asapuwa and Sakura Mal, directed by Sriyani Amerasena, Samala Sihinaya, directed by Tikiri Ratnayake, and Sathmala directed by Kalasoori Sathischandra.

Other teledramas Paboda Sandeepani has appeared in are Haduna Gaththouth Oba Ma, Isuru Bawana, Saki, Pingala Dan, Saki, Sakuge Kathawa, Sihina Genena Kumariye, Sooriya Wachchasa, and Yashorawaya. She played the titular character and protagonist, Anantha, in the teledrama of the same name aired by EAP Broadcasting Company in collaboration with Swarnavahini in 2016. In 2020, she appeared in Dangale, aired on Swarnavahini and the Sri Lankan sci-fi drama, Thuththiri, directed by Sanjaya Nirmal. Paboda Sandeepani’s most recent project is Gajaman (2023), an animated film directed by Chanaka Perera. She married Sidath Harindra in 2012, with whom she has a son, though the two are separated.