Mariyam Shakeela

Mariyam Shakeela is a Maldivian film actress.

Career 1992–2007: Early releases After completing her education in MCS and EPS, Shakeela married to comedian Yoosuf Rafeeu who was then a producer and news presenter at Television Maldives. A week after their marriage, Rafeeu requested her to feature in a film for a replacement of an actor who opted out of the film for personal reasons. This was followed by the Yoosuf Rafeeu's comedy film Nibu (1996), an unofficial remake of Gulzar's Bollywood comedy film Angoor (1982), which focuses on two pairs of identical twins separated at birth and how their lives go haywire when they meet in adulthood.

In 2000, she played the sister 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. Starring alongside Mohamed Shavin, Jamsheedha Ahmed, Sheela Najeeb and Niuma Mohamed, the series centers on unrequited love and complications of a relationship within and beyond marriage. Two years later, she played the role of Nahidha, a widow who starts an extra-marital affair with a womanizer in Abdul Faththaah's directorial film debut, Himeyn Dhuniye (2000) which received positive reviews from critics. The same year, she starred opposite Reeko Moosa Manik in the Easa Shareef-directed romantic horror film 2000 Vana Ufan Dhuvas (2000), in which she portrays the role of a helpless pregnant wife who discovers her husband having an affair with a younger and much prettier woman. She was applauded for her performance as the helpful sister, in the Abdul Faththaah-directed critically acclaimed television series, Thiyey Mihithuge Vindhakee (2003) which was considered as one of the best series production in television industry.

Abdul Faththaah's horror film Eynaa was released in 2004, in which appears Sheela Najeeb, Mohamed Manik, Ahmed Shah, Didi, Ibrahim Jihad and Nashidha Mohamed as six colleagues who go on a picnic to a haunted uninhabited island and their battle for survival. She played the wife murdered by his husband when she discovers his illicit affair and becomes a spirit who kills everyone landing on the island. The film garnered critical appreciation especially for its technical department and was a commercial success.

In 2005, she rose to widespread prominence in the television industry with her performance as an overprotective mother in the Arifa Ibrahim-directed critically acclaimed television series, Vairoalhi Ahves Sirrun (2005) which revolves around two best-friends involved in extra-marital affairs and who fail to practice their duty as husband and wife. Starring alongside Niuma Mohamed, Ahmed Asim, Aminath Rasheedha and Lufshan Shakeeb, the series was listed as one of the most successful television series. The film follows a temptress vampire who goes into a killing spree to quench her thirst.

In 2011, Shakeela played the role of Zahira, a religious mother trying to save her son and her failing marriage, in the Moomin Fuad-directed crime tragedy drama Loodhifa. Featuring an ensemble cast, the film deals with current social issues in society told from the different perspectives of the characters. Made on a budget of MVR 600,000, the film was declared a commercial failure though it received wide critical acclaim.

In 2012, Shakeela played a cunning step-mother in the Ravee Farooq-directed romantic drama film Mihashin Furaana Dhandhen opposite Niuma Mohamed, Mohamed Manik and Ali Seezan. Upon release, the film received a mixed response from critics while her performance was recognised positively. Ahmed Nadheem of Haveeru noted the film as "the best Maldivian melodramatic film" he had seen in the past two years, though was displeased with its similarities between two Bollywood films. Her portrayal of Wadheefa in the film resulted in a Maldives Film Awards nomination as the Best Supporting Actress. Filming was completed in 2011, though it was released three years following the death of film producer Hassain Ali. It revolves around a sacrificing mother and her affection towards her child.

2017–present: Multiple releases and frequent collaborations

Shakeela's first release of 2017 came in the Ali Musthafa-directed family drama Malikaa. Featuring Nuzuhath Shuaib and Mohamed Jumayyil in the lead role, the film tells the story of the sidelined daughter, played by Shuaib, who manages the family. Despite low expectations from trade analysts, the film received mixed reviews and performed moderately at the box office. Abdul Faththaah's romantic drama Hahdhu (2017) was her next film release, playing the role of a prostitute. The film touched upon controversial issues in the Maldives including the depiction of flogging and also shines a light on mental health by featuring an attempted suicide. The film opened to mixed reviews from critics though it emerged as one of the highest grossing Maldivian films of the year. The film marks Shafeeu's thirtieth direction and features an ensemble cast of twenty-one actors. The film received positive reviews from critics and was considered a "norm-breaker" for the Maldivian cinema. She was featured alongside Mohamed Jumayyil, Mariyam Majudha and Nuzuhath Shuaib in Ali Shifau's family drama Vakin Loabin (2018). The film tells a story of a young couple's divorce and its impact on everyone involved. Upon release, the film met with positive response from critics, specifically praising the screenplay for toning down its melodrama and breaking from the stereotypes of its genre, and it was a commercial success. She then starred in the first Maldivian web-series, a romantic drama by Fathimath Nahula, Huvaa. The series consisting of sixty episodes and streamed through the digital platform Baiskoafu, centers around a happy and radiant family which breaks into despairing pieces after a tragic incident that led to an unaccountable loss. The series and her performance as an over-strict mother were positively received.

Shakeela's first release of 2019 was the Moomin Fuad-directed psychological horror thriller Nivairoalhi (2019) which marks Niuma Mohamed's last onscreen film. Revolving around a patient suffering from depression, she played the mother of Maana, the young wife suffering from mood disorder. Starring opposite Mohamed, Yoosuf Shafeeu and Ahmed Asim, the film received majorly positive reviews from critics; Aishath Maaha of Dho? favored the performance of the lead actors and mentioned the "neat arrangement" of its screenplay though pointed out its "weak ending" to be unsatisfactory while her performance was noted to be "great as usual". She then starred in Yoosuf Shafeeu's horror comedy film 40+ (2019), a sequel to 2017 released comedy film Naughty 40, which was well received both critically and commercially. Later during the year, the first Maldivian anthology film was released which featured her as a female perpetrator of sexual abuse in the segment directed by Abdul Faththaah, titled Dharifiri . The project was shot in 2013 and digitally released six years later due to several delays in post-production.

Media image In 2012, Shakeela was ranked at the fourth position in the list of "Best Actresses in Maldives" compiled by Haveeru. 2004

Unnamed

2011

Zahira

2012

Wadheefa Nominated—Maldives Film Award for Best Supporting Actress

2017

Salma

2019

Arifa

2019

Gumeyra

2023

Shareefa

2024

2025

Zaheena

2025

Zarifa

2026 Thohira Completed

Television

Short film Year Title Role Notes 2007 Magey Dharifulhu Principal Special appearance 2010 Nu Ufan Dhari Hawwaidhee

Accolades Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2008 2nd Miadhu Crystal Award Best Mother Vaguthu Faaithu Nuvanees 2014 3rd Maldives Film Awards Best Supporting Actress Mihashin Furaana Dhandhen 2025 1st MSPA Film Awards Best Supporting Actor – Female Nivairoalhi