Shehan Malik at the Wankhede Stadium with the Mumbai Indians flag (Special Arrangement) NEW DELHI: Two best friends, Aman (Sanjay Dutt) and Akash (Salman Khan) fall in love with the same woman, Pooja (Madhuri Dixit). But in an emotional climax, Saajan Akash relents and brings Pooja to Aman. “Pooja ko laaya hoon, uske Saajan se milaane,” he says, placing her hand in Amanina’s – a moment that turned the film into a Bollywood classic.When Shehan Malik, now an actor and content creator, watched this scene as a child in Kegalle, he made a life decision.
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Learning Hindi through Bollywood
And so began Shehan’s quest to learn and speak Hindi. “I started watching only Hindi films. And then, even I didn’t know how, one day I stood in front of the mirror and rehearsed Salman Khan’s dialogues. That’s when I realized I knew a little Hindi,” recalls Shehan, whose mother tongue is Sinhala.He never took any formal lessons. The language came gradually through scenes, songs and repeated viewing of Bollywood movies. It was an unusual journey for someone from a Sinhala-speaking background.
Shehan Malik (special arrangement)
Now an actor and content creator by profession, Shehan’s Hind-Speaking videos have gone viral on social media. And like most Indian kids across the subcontinent, cricket was a big part of his upbringing and he even played the game at junior level in Sri Lanka alongside Sri Lankan internationals Kusal Mendis and Niroshan Dickwella. “Bachpan mein mai cricket khelta thha (I played cricket in my childhood). My school was St. Mary’s College in Kegalle. I played cricket for five years, up to the U-19 (level). Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, I played with them at the provincial level.”
IPL through a Sri Lankan lens
Shehan arrived in India at the start of IPL 2026. He first saw some matches in Delhi, then Mumbai and then Hyderabad.Talking about his experience of watching the IPL as a fan, the Hindi-speaking Sri Lankan said, “In Sri Lanka, the LPL is happening, but I don’t find fans who are passionate about a particular team. I hardly see anyone who goes all out for Colombo, who goes all out for Galle, or who goes all out for Candy.”Comparing fan rivalry during the IPL, Malik said, “I’m so surprised by Indian cricket fans. How can 1.2 billion people unite for the World Cup and within 20 days you start bashing each other on social media? Then you start this huge Mahabharat.”
One day I want to meet Salman Khan. I want to work in Bollywood.
Shehan Malik
Shehan spoke about the difference in experience in India and cricket culture in Sri Lanka: “It was 11 pm and I was exploring the streets of Mumbai and enjoying the night life of Mumbai. As I was walking I saw an indoor cricket stadium. And guess what? You have only women playing cricket without playing there. net. I found it extremely different from what we can see in Sri Lanka.”When compared to Sri Lanka, Shehan commented, “I live in Colombo, Sri Lanka. We don’t see each other that often in Colombo.”Shehan learned Hindi through movies, which now helps him connect with people in India. The cricket he played in his childhood brings him closer to the atmosphere of the game in India.Still, for Shehan, the actor he first watched on screen is still someone he hopes to meet. “One day I want to meet Salman Khan. I want to work in Bollywood,” she says with hope and ambition.
