A mega star is born
Winning awards at Mr. World left, and above, his stunning elephant-eagle National Costume for the pageant
Megha Sooriyaarachchi captivated the audience when, on the big stage at Mr. World 2024 last week in Vietnam, he dared stride out in his massive hybrid elephant-and-eagle costume, stepping majestically to steal the limelight. It was no surprise he ended up among the Top 10, the first Sri Lankan contestant ever to do so – also winning the People’s Choice and People’s Choice National Costume awards.
Behind those arresting eyes Megha, 29, had been pretty much the boy next door. Originally from Kandy but having schooled at D. S. Senanayake College, Colombo 7, he read his BA in film studies at the Kelaniya University and is currently reading for his MA at the Colombo University. Both his parents are doctors while he has a younger brother and sister who are twins.
Back from Vietnam on Wednesday, Megha says being a contestant at Mr. World was “something out of my comfort zone, really.” For, while he has been an actor, director and lecturer, he was never a professional model.
Mr. World, he says was a ‘memorable experience’ meeting and mingling with contestants from across the world from many a milieu.
“I had to collaborate with people from different ethnicities, cultures and with different personalities. You may not get along with hundred percent of the people you meet, but one had to work for something together and do team work.”
“Being true to yourself and being who you are is important,” he says.
At first, contestants were divided according to continent and Megha was quite close to Mr. Philippines, Mr. India, and Mr. Malaysia, but later he also struck up friendships with many including Mr. USA, Mr. Italy and Mr. Türkiye.
At the final round of the talent competition, Megha wanted to perform with fire, but this was not allowed.
Megha Sooriyaarachchi Pic by Eshan Fernando
Megha says ‘proper preparation’ stood him in good stead. “We had a proper team. I have to thank Model Shop for that – Sangeetha Weeraratne, Dhananjaya Bandara, Shereen Kumaratunge and the trainers Kumar de Silva, Lou Ching Wong and Aruni Weerakkody.
“They brought out the best in me. Potential alone is not enough at a world stage; there should be preparation. What you need is to be prepared and well versed.”
While Megha’s career goals are in lecturing, his passion is film directing. He is still (“and always will be”) studying acting academically. He first acted in 2010- “just one scene in front of a celluloid camera (35mm) – Joe Abeywickrema and myself. That was one of the most memorable experiences I will carry with me”… The film was Prathiroo.
His first main role was in the film Cinema, after which he began studying acting. Mandara, where he has a lead role, is in cinemas now, having surpassed 125 days.
He has played the lead role in five more films, and his directorial feature debut is Marine Drive, full of suspense and intrigue. “We will release that in the first quarter of next year.”
Above everything, he says, he values giving back. “As a society in Sri Lanka, we owe a lot to free education, free health care… So the Foundation of Change, which I founded about six years ago, is something I am really proud of…Through this (non-profit organization) I work to take Sri Lanka forward as a country, to empower grassroots communities in Sri Lanka.”
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