New Delhi: Two best friends, Aman (Sanjay Dutt) and Akash (Salman Khan), fall for the same woman, worship (Madhuri Dixit). But in Sajan’s emotional climax, Akash steps aside, bringing Pooja to Aman. “Bring pooja ko laya haun, ase sajan se malane,” he says as he holds Amma’s hand — a moment that turns the film into a Bollywood classic.Seeing the same scene as a child in Kigale, Sheehan Malik, now an actor and content creator, decided on life.
“Tears are coming from Salman Khan’s eyes in the last scene, only after watching that scene I decided to become a lead actor (Salman Khan’s eyes were in tears in the last scene. After watching this scene, I decided that I will become an actor),” Sheehan told Times of India.
Learning Hindi through Bollywood
And so began Sheehan’s quest to learn and speak Hindi. “I started watching only Hindi films. And then, I didn’t even know how, one day I was standing in front of the mirror rehearsing Salman Khan’s dialogues. That’s when I realized I knew a little bit of Hindi,” recalls Sheehan, whose mother tongue is Sinhala.He never took any formal lessons. The language came slowly through scenes, songs and repeated viewings of Bollywood movies. For someone from a Sinhala-speaking background, it was an unusual path.
Shahan Malik (Special Arrangements)
Now an actor and content creator by profession, Sheehan’s Hindi speaking videos have gone viral on social media. And like most Indian kids on 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 Kosal Mendes and Nirushan Dakvila. “My childhood used to play cricket (I used to play cricket as a child). My school was St Mary’s College in Kegalle. I played cricket for five years till under 19. [level]. Kosal Mendis, Nirushan Dikwila, I have played with them at the provincial level.
IPL Through the lens of Sri Lanka
Sheehan came to India at the start of IPL 2026. He watched a few matches first 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 going all out for Colombo, going all out for Galle, or going all out for Kandy.”Comparing it to the rivalry between fans during the IPL, Malik said, “I am very surprised by the Indian cricket fans, how can 1.2 billion people come together for the World Cup, and within 20 days, you start killing each other on social media? You start this huge epic later.”
I want to meet Salman Khan one day. I want to work in Bollywood.
Shahan Malik
Talking about the difference in experience between Indian and Sri Lankan cricket culture, Sheehan said, “It was 11 pm and I was roaming the streets of Mumbai and enjoying Mumbai’s nightlife. As I was walking I saw an indoor cricket stadium. And guess what? You have only women playing cricket there. I was like oh my god! At 11 o’clock, without fear, they are playing on the indoor net. I found it very different from what I see in Sri Lanka.“Comparing this to Sri Lanka, Sheehan observed, “I live in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In Colombo, we don’t see that very often.”Sheehan picked up Hindi through movies, which now helps him connect with people in India. Cricket, which he played growing up, brings him closer to the sporting environment in India.Still, for Sheehan, the actor he first saw on screen is still the one he hopes to meet. “I want to meet Salman Khan one day. I want to work in Bollywood,” he says with hope and desire.
