Yoosuf Shafeeu

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.