Yoosuf Shafeeu

Yoosuf Shafeeu also known as Eupe (20 October 1975) is a Maldivian film actor, editor, writer, and director.

One of the most successful filmmakers and actors in Maldivian Cinema, Shafeeu is the recipient of a number of awards, including eight Gaumee Film Awards, and a Maldives Film Award; ; holding the record of collecting maximum Gaumee Film Award for Best Actor.

The film was an unofficial remake of Karan Johar's romantic drama film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Rani Mukerji in the lead role.

Shafeeu made his career debut Amjad Ibrahim for his commercially successful comedy drama film Qurbaani (1999) followed by Hussain Adil's college romance Hiyy Halaaku, an unofficial remake of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998).

In 1999, while working at Paradise Island Resort, a crew of Television Maldives noticed him and offered to star in a video single.

As persuaded by cinematographer Shiyaz, he featured in the video song "Dhiri Huri Furaana Dhaathee" alongside Jamsheedha Ahmed which became a hit among audience.

Afterwards, he moved back to the resort and focused on his career there until he was spotted by director Amjad Ibrahim who signed him a role in his comedy drama film Qurbaani starring opposite Mariyam Nisha and Hussain Sobah.

The film was a financially successful project and was declared a Mega-Hit at the end of its run at cinema.

With regards to his fondness for the industry, he resigned from his post at the resort and joined the Motion Pictures studio.

Apart from Arifa Ibrahim-directed Saahibaa (2000), Shafeeu portrayed a college student in Hussain Adil's romance Hiyy Halaaku in 2000, in which he was involved in a love triangle along with Niuma Mohamed and Sheela Najeeb.

The plot combines two love triangles set years apart.

The first half covers friends on a college campus, while the second tells the story of a widower's young daughter who tries to reunite her dad with his old friend.

He starred as Dr. Ahmed Shifan, a sober longing for his unrequited love in Fathimath Nahula's drama film Naaummeedhu (2000) which depicts the story of a happily married couple whose life is shattered into pieces when they unintentionally invite a seductive woman into their life.

The film receiving favorable reviews from critics was able to screen twenty eight houseful shows at Olympus Cinema, making it the highest grossing Maldivian film of the year.

Besides, Shafeeu played the comprehensive husband opposite Mariyam Nisha in Amjad Ibrahim's comedy drama film, Majubooru Loabi (2000).

He next starred alongside Sheela Najeeb, Jamsheedha Ahmed, Mohamed Shavin and Ibrahim Giyas in Amjad Ibrahim-directed Aaah (2001) which revolves around two siblings involved in family business and the downfall of the younger brother's love life when he discovers his fiancé is already married to an abusive husband.

Despite receiving criticism for his performances in Amjad Ibrahim's horror films; Sandhuravirey (2002), Dhonkamana (2003) and first Maldivian sequel Sandhuravirey 2 (2004), Shafeeu was met with critical and commercial success with Fathimath Nahula-directed Naaummeedhu (2000), Loabi Nuvevununama (2002) and Kalaayaanulaa (2003).

He next starred alongside Mariyam Nazima and Ali Seezan as the single father who sacrifices his love for the sake of his handicapped friend, in Mohamed Rasheed's Hithu Vindhu (2002).

Amjad Ibrahim-directed Ainbehge Loabi Firiehge Vaajib starring Shafeeu, Jamsheedha Ahmed, Arifa Ibrahim and Niuma Mohamed was released in the same year.

The film revolves around a woman who has been mistreated by her step-mother and forced into a marriage she disapproves.

Shafeeu played dual role in the film; Hazaar, a hideous man whose first wife had extra-marital affair while seeking affection from his second marriage, and Shafiu, the guy whom Hazaar's second wife falls for.

In 2002, Shafeeu had three film releases whereas he first featured alongside Mariyam Nisha, Mariyam Nazima, Moosa Zakariyya and Ahmed Shimau in Shimau-directed family drama film Loabi Nuvevununama.

Written by Fathimath Nahula, the story narrates the journey of a handicapped man who has been betrayed in love and unknowingly marries his brother's love interest.

The film was a critical and commercial success.

He next worked with Amjad Ibrahim for two projects; his horror film Sandhuravirey (2002) which narrates the story of a female jinn aiming to win the heart of a human being and his drama film opposite Sheela Najeeb, Kahvalhah Dhaandhen.

Featuring Shafeeu and Mariyam Nisha in lead roles, the former received poor reviews from critics.

In 2003, the Government of Maldives honoured him with the National Award of Recognition.

Shafeeu next collaborated with Amjad Ibrahim for his romantic horror film Dhonkamana (2003) which depicts the romantic relationship between a young man (played by Shafeeu) and an old woman (played by Fauziyya Hassan).

Featuring Hassan, Sheela Najeeb, Niuma Mohamed, Sheereen Abdul Wahid, Amira Ismail and Aminath Rasheedha, the film received mainly negative reviews from critics though its inclusion of the theme portraying the relationship between a couple with a large age group was appraised.

His most successful release of the year was Fathimath Nahula's romantic film Kalaayaanulaa (2003) which follows a happily married couple (played by Shafeeu and Aishath Shiranee) where the husband decided to marry his childhood best friend (played by Niuma Mohamed) when his wife fails to sexually please him.

The film received widespread critical acclaim for its performances and was declared to be year's highest grossing Maldivian film release.

Shafeeu's portrayal of the contrast husband, garnered him a Gaumee Film Award nomination as the Best Actor.

Shafeeu received his first Gaumee Film Award as the Best Actor for his "authentic" performance as the negligent and short tempered husband who continues an extramarital affair with his ex-lover in Abdul Faththaah's critically praised romantic film Vehey Vaarey Therein (2003).

His performance as a confused husband in Kalaayaanulaa, a vulnerable father diagnosed with cancer in Fathimath Nahula's Zuleykha (2005) and a short tempered husband in the Abdul Faththaah's critically acclaimed Vehey Vaarey Therein (2003) resulted in three Gaumee Film Award nominations for Best Actor, ultimately winning it for the latter.

Shafeeu defended the trophy in the following ceremony with his performance as a conflicted husband Ahmed Nimal's romantic film Vaaloabi Engeynama (2006) while being nominated in the same category for the horror film, Hukuru Vileyrey (2006).

From the year 2009 onward, majority of films starring Shafeeu were written and directed by himself, including films like Hiyy Rohvaanulaa (2009), 01 January (2009), Mendhamuge Evaguthu (2010), Loaiybahtakaa (2009), Insaaf where the last two mentioned films garnered him two Maldives Film Awards nominations for Best Director.

He was later noted for breaking his image as a romantic lover and experimenting with different genres.

In 2013 Shafeeu featured in Ali Shifau-directed horror film Fathis Handhuvaruge Feshun 3D; first Maldivian 3D film and prequel where played the iconic role of Jinaa, which mainly received criticism.

He then committed with his suspense thriller films; 24 Gadi Iru (2014) and Dhevansoora (2018), followed by his comedy films, Baiveriyaa (2016), Naughty 40 (2017) and the first Maldivian horror comedy film 40+ (2019).

In 2015, he created records by holding maximum trophies for Gaumee Film Award for Best Actor by winning the award for the third consecutive ceremony with Moomin Fuad's suspense thriller Happy Birthday (2009), among his other nominations; Fathimath Nahula's romantic drama film, Yoosuf (2008) and his own direction Veeraana (2010).