• ‘Sri Siddhartha Gautama’ star Gagan Malik returns to Sri Lanka

When Gagan Malik first arrived in Sri Lanka over a decade ago to play the role of Prince Siddhartha in a Buddhist biopic, he could not have predicted how profoundly it would reshape his life. Today, the Indian actor, now also a spiritual ambassador and ordained practitioner, continues to carry the weight of that transformation.

His most recent visit to Sri Lanka earlier this month wasn’t simply another appearance. It was a return to the island that offered him more than fame or artistic success. It was here that he first connected deeply with the Dhamma, forging a bond that has since guided his spiritual and creative path.

“Sri Lanka is sacred to me,” Malik shared, in conversation with The Daily Morning Brunch. “It gave me more than a role; it gave me direction.”

Now, years after embodying the Enlightened One on screen, Malik’s presence in the country still draws admiration, reverence, and a quiet kind of joy from schoolchildren to monks, from filmgoers to those who’ve found meaning in his spiritual message. His story is no longer just about playing a prince who gave up everything. It’s about living that renunciation, one choice at a time.

A film that changed a life

This homecoming was rooted in a film that forever linked Malik to Sri Lanka: ‘Sri Siddhartha Gautama’, a cinematic portrayal of the life of the Buddha that became a cultural milestone in the country’s film history. Behind its production was Light of Asia Foundation Chair Navin Gooneratne, whose vision and commitment guided the project to success.

The search for the perfect Siddhartha took over a year. It ended when Siddhivinayak Cine Arts Chair Koushalya Wickramasinghe introduced Malik to Gooneratne. Despite alternative names floated by the selection panel, both were unanimous in their conviction: Gagan Malik was the one.

Their decision paid off. The film broke box office records and resonated deeply with audiences across the island. But its impact didn’t stop at cinema halls. Gooneratne and Malik embarked on a grassroots tour, screening the film free of charge in remote villages and small towns. It became more than entertainment, it was a spiritual offering.

A whirlwind of meaningful encounters

Malik’s 2025 return was hosted with warmth and reverence. He arrived to a welcome at Cinnamon Lakeside under the patronage of Gooneratne, with support from General Manager of the hotel Nazoomi Azhar. What followed was a series of meaningful engagements designed to reconnect Malik with the audiences and spiritual spaces that had once embraced him.

His first stop was Musaeus College, where he was greeted by rows of eager students following a special screening of ‘Sri Siddhartha Gautama’ to mark Poson Poya, a sacred day marking the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It was also the very day Malik once chose to ordain as a monk at Mihintale, and so, the visit felt perfectly timed.

“It was humbling to see so many young people moved by the film,” Malik noted. “I saw myself in their eyes, curious, searching, and open to the Dhamma.”

On 7 June, Malik travelled to Kandy for a screening held at Mahaweli Reach Hotel. There, an enthusiastic crowd gathered to hear his reflections. Speaking with heartfelt gratitude, he recalled the enduring emotional weight of the role: “Even after all these years, the story of Prince Siddhartha continues to shape me. It’s not a performance, it’s a path I’ve been walking ever since.”

Into the heart of the Dhamma

Shortly after, his spiritual itinerary took a deeper turn. He first visited the Asgiriya Pirivena in Kandy, a traditional center of Buddhist learning. Following a screening of the film, he spent time in dialogue with the resident monks and students. The conversations were intimate, marked by laughter, respect, and a shared sense of purpose.

“That morning at Asgiriya Pirivena reminded me why this story endures,” he said. “It speaks to all of us, whether we wear robes or not.”

That same afternoon, Malik travelled to one of the island’s most historically significant Buddhist sites: Aluvihare Rock Temple in Matale. Known as the location where the Pāli Canon was first transcribed, it served as a fitting backdrop for a mass screening of ‘Sri Siddhartha Gautama’. Hundreds of devotees gathered, many of them staying long after the credits rolled to meet the actor who, to them, embodied the Enlightened One.

Finally, on the morning of 9 June, Malik made a quiet visit to the Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa). It was a personal moment of reverence and closure, a farewell not just to the island, but to the sacred space that houses what is believed to be the Buddha’s tooth relic.

“To bow before the Sacred Relic is not just ritual, it is a reminder of what matters most: Compassion, truth, and inner peace,” he reflected.

Film as a vessel for the Dhamma

While this visit marked the end of one journey, it also sparked conversations about what comes next. Malik and Gooneratne held a series of discussions about an ambitious new cinematic undertaking: The dramatisation of the Buddhist Sutras.

This project, intended to translate the Buddha’s teachings into film, builds on the success of their earlier work. The first film in the series recently premiered at the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025 in Vietnam, where it was met with praise from global audiences and spiritual leaders alike.

“Sutra by sutra, we hope to bring the teachings alive on screen,” said Malik, talking about the screening. “It’s a project rooted in faith and shared humanity.”

Though no details were publicly disclosed, both parties have confirmed that Sri Lanka will remain central to these future projects.

A personal connection

To Malik, the connection to Sri Lanka is deeply personal. He describes the country not merely as a filming location, but as the place where a spiritual transformation took root. His decision to temporarily ordain as a Buddhist monk in Thailand, spending 100 days in monastic life, was influenced directly by his experiences on this island.

“The spiritual heritage here, the elegance of the culture, and the love of the people... these things have left an impression on my soul,” he said, referring to his time spent at the Temple of the Tooth Relic.

As he departed the country, it was clear that this would not be the last Sri Lanka would see of Gagan Malik. Conversations are already underway for a return visit. For those who met him, whether in a classroom, temple courtyard, or rural screening, the memory of his presence, much like the role he portrayed, will endure.