Arifa Ibrahim

Arifa Ibrahim (born 22 June 1955) is a Maldivian actress, producer, director and writer.

Daughter of late Ibrahim Fulhu and late Fathma Fulhu, Arifa Ibrahim was born on 22 June 1955.

She got married at the age of fourteen and is blessed with five daughters and one son.

During her early life, Arifa was famous for stencil designing.

In 1993, Arifa starred opposite Ahmed Nimal in his direction, a drama film, Sitee.

Based on true incidents occurred to a friend of Nimal, the film focuses on a fisherman who later turns to be a successful businessman and his search for his father.

The film regarded as one of the "Best Maldivian Films" features Arifa in the role Naseema, a poor woman who looks after her only son.

This was followed by her collaboration with Yoosuf Rafeeu for his tragedy drama film Vaudhu which follows the separation of a happy couple due to the societal differences.

The following year, Arifa starred alongside Chilhiya Moosa Manik, Hassan Afeef, Lillian Saeed and Mariyam Haajara in Ibrahim Rasheed's family drama Dhevana An'bi.

She played the role of Majidha, a wily wife who marries a wealthy bank manager and destroys the marriage of her daughter-in-law.

The film revolves around a couple who gets separated due to discrimination by a cunning mother-in-law regarding social status.

The same year, she featured in a small role in Mohamed Niyaz's only directed feature film Dheriyaa which requisites the style of film-making the industry follows.

The film was critically appreciated and was a commercial success, by showing thirty two housefull shows at cinema.

She next appeared in Yoosuf Rafeeu's award-winning film Haqqu as Asima, mother of Shahid who reluctantly forced her only son to marry a woman he dissent.

The film starring Mariyam Nisha, Reeko Moosa Manik and Mariyam Shakeela in lead roles, received positive reviews from critics.

The following year she starred and directed the family drama Manzil which follows an intelligent and hardworking orphan, played by Aishath Shiranee, whose life turns a dramatic change while working as a servant in a reputed family.

This was followed by her performance as a helpless mother in the Abdulla Shujau's Nafrathu (1994).

Arifa played the role of a responsible aunt who discovers the immoral relationship of her niece with her teacher, in Amjad Ibrahim's debut direction Huras (1996).

The film was developed solely with the intention of winning Gaumee Film Awards though it failed to garner any award at 2nd Gaumee Film Awards ceremony.

The same year, she played the role of an abusive mother mistreating her adopted child, in Mohamed Rasheed's Hifehettumeh Neiy Karuna, starring opposite Niuma Mohamed, Abdul Raheem and Ibrahim Wisan.

Easa Shareef's horror film Fathis Handhuvaru, starring Reeko Moosa Manik and Niuma Mohamed was released in 1997.

The film tells a conflicting love story of a married young woman who falls in love with a ghost and the consequences when her family expands from either sides.

She played mother of Zoona, the fearless lady who has been trapped in the powers of a ghost.

The film is celebrated as the most successful and most watched Maldivian film with highest number of shows screened on release.

It was also widely appreciated by the critics and was considered to be the "all time favorite" Maldivian film.

Arifa also appeared in a Television Maldives production, Fun Asaru which follows two women; one searching for her mother and one fighting cancer.

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.

She was also signed to play a helpless yet caring mother opposite Reeko Moosa Manik, Shiznee and Jamsheedha Ahmed in Hussain Adhil-directed Sirru (1998).

The following year, she played the aunt of Nasiha, an attractive young woman in a relationship with a married man and a patient suffering from congenital heart disease in Abdul Faththaah's television drama series Dhoapatta (2000).

Starring alongside Mohamed Shavin, Sheela Najeeb and Niuma Mohamed, the series centers on unrequited love and complications of a relationship within and beyond marriage.

Her collaboration with Faththaah was repeated the same year with another romantic drama series, Aisha where she played the short-tempered and abusive mother.

Mariyam Shauqee's widely acclaimed family drama television series Kahthiri was released during the same year, where she played the role of the influential mother of an extended family living in a congested housing complex, dealing with several social issues.

In 2000, Arifa played the mother of an unattractive fun-loving tomboy, in Hussain Adil's romance Hiyy Halaaku alongside Yoosuf Shafeeu, 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.

Amjad Ibrahim-directed Ainbehge Loabi Firiehge Vaajib, starring Arifa, Yoosuf Shafeeu, Jamsheedha Ahmed and Niuma Mohamed was released in 2000.

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

Arifa played the role of Zahidha, the villainous mother who treats her step-daughter badly.

At the 3rd Gaumee Film Awards, Arifa was bestowed with Best Supporting Actress award for her performance in the film.

The same year, she starred in another Amjad Ibrahim's direction, a comedy drama film, Majubooru Loabi (2000) opposite Mariyam Nisha and Yoosuf Shafeeu which focuses on a failing marriage of a comprehensive man and an emotionally immature woman.