Biography

Menik Gooneratne is an Australian actress and writer with an international career spanning film, television, and screenwriting. She is best known for her roles in the Oscar-nominated feature Lion, Peter Jackson’s Mortal Engines, and the iconic Australian series Neighbours, where she portrayed Priya Kapoor as part of the show’s first South-Asian family.

Alongside her acting career, Menik has built a reputation as a screenwriter and creative developer. She is currently in pre-production on two feature films she has written and will star in: Written in the Stars and Prawn Curry Christmas.

Career Highlights

Film

• Lion (2016) – Appeared in Garth Davis’ Oscar-nominated feature alongside Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman.

• Mortal Engines (2018) – Featured in the sci-fi epic produced by Peter Jackson.

• Written in the Stars (in pre-production, directed by Fawzia Mirza) – Menik’s debut as writer/actor in a feature film. Developed with mentorship from Gurinder Chadha OBE, shortlisted for the Sundance Development Lab, featured on the 2021 CAPE x Blacklist, and selected for the 2024 WIFT Cannes Catalyst program. Now backed by Screen Australia and VicScreen as a $10m Australian–Canadian co-production.

• Prawn Curry Christmas (in pre-production, directed by Charmaine Murray) – Co-written and co-starring Menik. Winner of the 2025 West Coast Visions prize, securing $1.5m production funding from ScreenWest and Screen Australia.

Television

• Neighbours (2011–2013) – Played Priya Kapoor, a pivotal role in the soap’s first South-Asian family.

• The Wizards of Aus (2016) – Featured in Michael Shanks’ (Together) Australian TV comedy series.

• Fisk (Season 3, 2025) – Guest role as Dipika.

Writing & Creative Development

Menik’s writing career has drawn international recognition:

• Mentored by Gurinder Chadha OBE (Bend It Like Beckham).

• Shortlisted for the 2020 Sundance Development Lab.

• Named in the 2021 CAPE x Blacklist for unproduced scripts.

• Selected for the inaugural 2024 WIFT Australia Cannes Catalyst program.

Her projects not only represent her as a storyteller but also create pathways for underrepresented voices in the industry.

Recognition

After years of honing her craft across screenwriting, producing, and performance, Menik has reached a defining point in her creative journey, one in which her vision, experience, and industry position uniquely align.

• She is committed to building systems that change who gets to tell stories in Australia and how those stories reach the world.

• Her slate of female-led and South Asian projects makes her a leading voice in reshaping Australian storytelling.

• Each project is designed to provide mentorship and training opportunities for emerging creatives from underrepresented backgrounds.

• Through her work, Menik is actively elevating diverse voices and redefining cultural representation on screen.

• Menik’s upcoming feature Written in the Stars, directed by award-winning filmmaker Fawzia Mirza. The project, developed with support from Screen Australia and VicScreen, positions Menik as both lead actor and screenwriter. It has been covered in international press, including Deadline, highlighting her dual role as writer and lead actor.

Verified Links

• IMDb Profile

• Instagram – Official Social Media

• Wikipedia – Priya Kapoor

• Deadline – Written in the Stars Announcement

• Naluda Magazine – Interview

• Refinery 29 – Feature on Industry Representation

Updates

• 2025: Guest role in Fisk (Season 3).

• 2025: Pre-production on Written in the Stars and Prawn Curry Christmas.