Aishath Shiranee (born 16 January 1975) is a Maldivian former film actress. Shiranee is the recipient of several awards, including one Gaumee Film Award and three Aafathis Awards. In 2001, the Government of Maldives honoured her with the National Award of Recognition.
Career While working in a job at Maldives Customs Service, Shiranee made her screen debut with a video single titled "Hithaa Roohun Asaru Kuranee" alongside Ahmed Ghiyas which was followed by several other video songs before making her film debut with the film Naseebu (1992).
Apart from the Abdulla Shujau directed drama film Nafrathu (1994), Shiranee starred in the Arifa Ibrahim-directed family drama Manzil (1994) which portrays her as an intelligent and hardworking orphan, whose life takes a dramatic turn while working as a servant in a reputed family. The same year, she starred in Ali Waheed-directed Kulunu which fetched her first Gaumee Film Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also appeared in a Television Maldives production, Fun Asaru (1996) which follows two women; one searching for her mother and one fighting cancer. Her performance in the second half of the film received positive reviews from critics.
Mariyam Shauqee's widely acclaimed family drama television series Kahthiri was released in 1997; here Shiranee played the role of a TV presenter living in a congested housing complex while dealing with various social issues. The same year, she played the role of a blind girl in Abdulla Sujau-directed Laila (1997), followed by her collaboration with Ahmed Mohamed Didi for his crime thriller film, Heelaiy (1997). An unofficial remake of Abbas–Mustan's Bollywood film Baazigar (1993), she played dual roles of a young woman who is murdered by a clever man and the sister seeking revenge on the assault.
In 2000, she played the role of a factory manager who gets meddled in a love affair of two friends, in Ahmed Nimal's family drama Sababu. She next starred in the film Rihun (2000) opposite Ismail Wajeeh which received mixed reviews from critics. This was followed by the year's most successful Maldivian film, Ahmed Nimal's horror classic Zalzalaa, in which Shiranee portrays a jinn who enthralls a middle-aged man.
One of the most successful films from her career, Fathimath Nahula's romantic film Kalaayaanulaa was released in 2003 which follows a happily married couple (played by Yoosuf Shafeeu and 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 and was declared to be year's highest grossing Maldivian film release. Her portrayal of the unfortunate first wife, garnered her a Miadhu Crystal Award for Best Supporting Actress and a Gaumee Film Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination
Media image Shiranee is considered among the most popular and high-profile celebrities in Maldives. Analysing her career, Aishath Maaha from Avas wrote: "Emotional, Joyful or Envious, Shiranee fits perfectly to all roles and all her performances can easily be graded with full marks".
Filmography Feature film Year Title Role Notes 1992 Naseebu 1993Thuhumathu Shareef's sister 1994 Zakham Nadhiya 1994 Kulunu Nasheedha Gaumee Film Award for Best Supporting Actress 1994 Nafrathu Fazna 1996 Fun Asaru Hana 1997 Laila LailaNominated—Gaumee Film Award for Best Actress 1997 Heelaiy Naazleen / Naazneen Dual roles1998 EthoofaaneereyNifasha 1999 Sababu Liusha 2000 Rihun Maana 2000 Zalzalaa Unnamed2000 Namoonaa2001 Hiyy Heyokuraathi 2003 Kalaayaanulaa Leena Nominated—Gaumee Film Award for Best Supporting Actress
Television Year Title Role Notes1993 Dhen Keehkuraanee?FazeelaTeledrama1993 GundolhiShirumeenaTeledrama1993 HaalathuAishathTeledrama 1994 Manzil Zahidha Main role1994 InthizaaruInayaMain role; 13 episodes1994 FurusathuSharudhaMain role1994 DhanthuraAfraTeledrama 1994 Qurubaan Nasha Main role; 8 episodes1996 MalakaaMalakaaTeledrama1996 BadhunaamZiunaTeledrama1997 HuvafaiyMain role1997 Oyaa Dhiya HayaaiyShaalinee / Shaalinee's motherDual roles 1997–1999 Kahthiri Aishath Rashfa Main role; 49 episodes1998 Ehan'dhaanMain role1998 RaalhubaaniTeledrama 2024Yaaraa Herself Narrator; "Episode 50"
Accolades Year Award Category Nominated work Result 1993 Aafathis Award - 1993Best DanceNaseebu 1995 1st Gaumee Film Awards Best Supporting Actress Kulunu Best Actress Zakham 1996Aafathis Award - 1995Best ActressZakham 1997 2nd Gaumee Film Awards Best Actress Fun Asaru 1998 Aafathis Award - 1997 Best Dance Heelaiy 1998Aafathis Film Award - 1998Best ActressLaila 2001 National Award of Recognition Performing Arts - Acting 2007 3rd Gaumee Film AwardsBest ActressLaila 2007 1st Miadhu Crystal Awards Best Supporting Actress Kalaayaanulaa 4th Gaumee Film Awards Best Supporting Actress Kalaayaanulaa 2025 1st MSPA Film Awards Lifetime Achievement Award
References