Yoosuf Shafeeu also known as Eupe (20 October 1975) is a Maldivian film actor, director, producer, writer and editor. Regarded as one of the most successful figures in Maldivian cinema, Shafeeu is the recipient numerous accolades, including eight Gaumee Film Awards, and a Maldives Film Award; holding the record for winning the most Gaumee Film Award for Best Actor. In 2003, the Government of Maldives honoured him with the National Award of Recognition.
Shafeeu made his career debut in Amjad Ibrahim's commercially successful comedy-drama Qurbaani (1999), followed by Hussain Adil's college romance Hiyy Halaaku, an unofficial remake of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998). While he received criticism for his performances in Amjad Ibrahim's horror films; Sandhuravirey (2002), Dhonkamana (2003) and Sandhuravirey 2 (2004), he gained critical and commercial success with Fathimath Nahula-directed films such as Naaummeedhu (2000), Loabi Nuvevununama (2002) and Kalaayaanulaa (2003). His performance as a conflicted husband in Kalaayaanulaa, a father diagnosed with cancer in Fathimath Nahula's Zuleykha (2005) and a short-tempered husband in Abdul Faththaah's critically acclaimed Vehey Vaarey Therein (2003) earned him three Gaumee Film Award nominations for Best Actor, with a win for the latter.
Shafeeu won the Best Actor award again for his role in Ahmed Nimal's romantic film Vaaloabi Engeynama (2006) and was also nominated for Hukuru Vileyrey (2006). In 2015, he set a record by winning the Gaumee Film Award for Best Actor for the third consecutive time with Moomin Fuad's suspense thriller Happy Birthday (2009). He was also nominated in the same category for Yoosuf (2008) and Veeraana (2010), which he directed himself. From 2009 onward, he took on more roles as a writer and director, helming projects such as Hiyy Rohvaanulaa (2009), 01 January (2009), Mendhamuge Evaguthu (2010), Loaiybahtakaa (2009), Insaaf (2011). The latter two earned him nominations for Best Director at the Maldives Film Awards.
In later years, he diversified his roles, moving away from romantic characters and experimenting with different genres. In 2013, he starred in Ali Shifau-directed horror film Fathis Handhuvaruge Feshun 3D, first Maldivian 3D film and prequel where he played the iconic character Jinaa, which mainly received criticism. He then explored the thriller genre with 24 Gadi Iru (2014) and Dhevansoora (2018), and ventured into comedy with Baiveriyaa (2016), Naughty 40 (2017) and 40+ (2019), the first Maldivian horror-comedy film. Dhevansoora fetched him four awards including Best Director, Best Actor, Best Editing and Best Screenplay.
Career 1999–05: Early releases In 1999, while working at Paradise Island Resort, a crew from Television Maldives noticed him and offered him a role in a video single. Persuaded by cinematographer Shiyaz, he featured in the video song "Dhiri Huri Furaana Dhaathee" alongside Jamsheedha Ahmed which became popular among audience. Afterwards, he returned to the resort and focused on his career there until he was spotted by director Amjad Ibrahim, who cast him in the comedy-drama film Qurbaani, starring opposite Mariyam Nisha and Hussain Sobah. The film was financially successful and was declared a Mega-Hit at the end of its cinema run. Encouraged by his growing interest in the industry, he resigned from his position at the resort and joined the Motion Pictures studio.
In 2000, he appeared in Saahibaa, directed by Arifa Ibrahim, and portrayed a college student in Hussain Adil's romance Hiyy Halaaku, along with Niuma Mohamed and Sheela Najeeb. The plot intertwined two love triangles set years apart—the first half depicting friendships on a college campus, and the second following a widower's daughter trying to reunite her father with his past love. The film was an unofficial remake of Karan Johar's romantic drama film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998).
That same year, he starred in Ainbehge Loabi Firiehge Vaajib (2000), directed byAmjad Ibrahim, featuring Jamsheedha Ahmed, Arifa Ibrahim and Niuma Mohamed. The film revolves around a woman who has been mistreated by her step-mother and forced into a marriage she disapproves. The film revolved around a woman mistreated by her stepmother and forced into a marriage she disapproves of. He played a dual role: Hazaar, a man whose first wife had an extramarital affair and Shafiu, the man with whom Hazaar's second wife falls in love. He also portrayed a devoted husband opposite Mariyam Nisha in Amjad Ibrahim's comedy dramaMajubooru Loabi (2000).
In Aaah (2001), directed by Ibrahim, he starred alongside Sheela Najeeb, Jamsheedha Ahmed, Mohamed Shavin and Ibrahim Giyas. The film followed two siblings managing a family business and the downfall of the younger brother's love life upon discovering his fiancée was already married to an abusive husband. Additionally, he played Dr. Ahmed Shifan, a man longing for his unrequited love, in Fathimath Nahula's drama film Naaummeedhu (2001), a film about a happily married couple whose life is turned upside down when they inadvertently invite a seductive woman into their lives. The film received favourable reviews and was declared the highest-grossing Maldivian film of the year.
In 2002, he appeared in four films. In Loabi Nuvevununama (2002), directed by Ahmed Shimau and written by Fathimath Nahula, he played a handicapped man betrayed in love, who unknowingly marries his brother's love interest. The film was both a critical and commercial success. He then collaborated with Amjad Ibrahim on two projects: the horror film Sandhuravirey (2002), which told the story of a female jinn seeking a human's love, and the drama Kahvalhah Dhaandhen (2002), opposite Sheela Najeeb and Kausar. Both films received mixed to negative reviews from critics. He then played a single father who sacrifices his love for the sake of his handicapped friend in Mohamed Rasheed's Hithu Vindhu (2002), alongside Mariyam Nazima and Ali Seezan.
In 2003, he worked with Amjad Ibrahim on the romantic horror film Dhonkamana (2003), which depicted a relationship between a young man (played by him) and an older woman (played by Fauziyya Hassan). Despite negative reviews, the film was praised for addressing a relationship with a significant age gap. His most successful release of the year was Fathimath Nahula's romantic drama Kalaayaanulaa (2003), where he played a husband who, after being dissatisfied with his marriage, decides to wed his childhood best friend. The film received widespread acclaim and was the highest-grossing Maldivian film of the year. His performance earned him a nomination for Best Actor at the Gaumee Film Awards. He won his first Gaumee Film Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of a negligent and short-tempered husband entangled in an extramarital affair in Abdul Faththaah's critically praised romantic drama Vehey Vaarey Therein (2003). The film, featuring Jamsheedha Ahmed, Khadheeja Ibrahim Didi, Mohamed Shavin, Amira Ismail and Aminath Rasheedha, explored themes of unrequited love and became one of the highest-grossing Maldivian films of the year.
That same year, he starred alongside Ismail Rasheed and Mariyam Nisha in Hussain Rasheed's Edhi Edhi Hoadheemey (2003), as an ambitious young man who refutes a marriage proposal to pursue his education. Upon release, the film received mainly positive reviews from critics. Hilath Rasheed reviewing from Haveeru Daily praised the performance by actors and also the moments of "pure artistry and sheer film-making brilliance" in the film. During the year, he starred in two television series: the social drama Edhuvas En'buri Annaanenama, directed by Fathimath Nahula, and the family drama Dheewanaa Hiyy, directed by Easa Shareef. In the former, he portrayed a drug abuser struggling to cope after losing his love interest, while in the latter, he played an obedient son who discovers the truth about his father in adulthood.
In 2004, Shafeeu reprised his role as Dhiyash in Sandhuravirey 2 (2004), the sequel to Sandhuravirey (2002). The sequel introduced additional cast members, including Niuma Mohamed, Zeenath Abbas, Mohamed Shavin and Sheereen Abdul Wahid. He also portrayed the role of an established film actor, Nail, the son of Dhiyash and Shafqa, who is harassed by a jinn—his half-sister. Like its predecessor, the film received negative reviews. The following year, he starred in Edhathuru which followed eight friends on a picnic to a haunted, uninhabited island and their struggle for survival. The film received praise for its sound effects and was commercially successful.
The following year, he starred in Zuleykha (2005), a romantic drama directed by Fathimath Nahula, which was both critically acclaimed and commercially successful. The film followed the journey of a nine-year-old girl searching for her mother's lost love. Starring alongside Sheela Najeeb, Mariyam Nisha, Ali Seezan, Mohamed Manik and Mariyam Enash Sinan, he played a vulnerable father diagnosed with terminal cancer. His performance earned him a Gaumee Film Award nomination for Best Actor and won him Gaumee Film Award nomination as the Best Actor. The film screened 33 houseful shows at the cinema, making it the highest-grossing Maldivian film of the year.
2006–09: Awards and recognition Shafeeu starred in another horror film, Hukuru Vileyrey (2006), co-directed by Aishath Rishmy and Aminath Rasheedha, based on a novel published by Ibrahim Waheed in Haveeru Daily in 2003. The film was both a critical and commercial success and was considered "one of the few acceptable horror films the Maldivian film industry has ever produced". It was later released as a 15-episode television series, incorporating several scenes that had been edited out of the theatrical version. His performance as an aspiring author who becomes enthralled by an evil spirit earned him a Gaumee Film Award nomination for Best Actor. His next release, Ahmed Nimal's romantic film Vaaloabi Engeynama (2006), in which he starred alongside Mariyam Afeefa, Fathimath Fareela and Fauziyya Hassan, was a critical and commercial success. It was regarded as the most successful Maldivian film of the year. His portrayal of a conflicted husband struggling to balance his affection for his two wives won him his second Gaumee Film Award as the Best Actor.
In 2007, Shafeeu released the horror short film series Vasvaas, which he wrote, produced and directed. He also starred in all four instalments of the series, portraying an evil master and introducing the character of Kudafoolhu, a jinn who manipulates and misleads people. The series gained popularity among children at the time of its release for its innovative concept, and its technical aspects were praised by critics. His performance earned him a nomination for the Gaumee Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. Following this, he created a two-part horror short film series, Edhonveli Thundi, starring alongside Ali Riyaz and Fathimath Fareela. In the film, he played a blind man and the brother of an unfortunate man who unknowingly vows to marry a spirit. The film won two awards at the 5th Gaumee Film Awards, securing Best Film and Best Director in the short film category.