Aishath Shiranee

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).[1]

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.[2] The same year, she starred in Ali Waheed-directed Kulunu which fetched her first Gaumee Film Award for Best Supporting Actress.[1] She also appeared in a Television Maldives production, Fun Asaru (1996) which follows two women; one searching for her mother and one fighting cancer.[3] Her performance in the second half of the film received positive reviews from critics.[3]

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.[4] 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).[5][6] 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.[7][8]

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.[9] She next starred in the film Rihun (2000) opposite Ismail Wajeeh which received mixed reviews from critics.[10] 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.[11][12]

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 bestfriend (played by Niuma Mohamed) when his wife fails to sexually please him.[13] The film received widespread critical acclaim and was declared to be year's highest grossing Maldivian film release.[14] 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[15][16]

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".[17]