Sheela Najeeb (born 7 September 1974) is a Maldivian film actress. She has established a career in Maldivian Film Industry and is the recipient of several awards, including one Gaumee Film Awards and two Maldivian Film Awards. She made her screen debut alongside Junaid in a music video "Nudhaashey Magey Loabivaa" and featured in several films thereafter.
In 2001, she gained wider recognition for the lead role in the romance film Hiiy Edhenee; a remake of Dhadkan, followed by Abdul Faththaah's Aan... Aharenves Loabivin (2002) and his horror film Eynaa (2004). She received a Gaumee Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for playing the iniquitous mother in Zuleykha (2005). She went on to establish herself as a leading actress of Maldivian cinema by starring in the horror film Zalzalaa En'buri Aun (2010) resulting in a Gaumee Film Award for Best Actress nomination. During the year played supporting roles in year's two highest grossing films, Niuma (2010) and Heyonuvaane (2010) where her performance gained critical acclaim. Her role as a whistleblower in the former and a ferocious wife in the latter fetched her two Best Supporting Actress nominations.
In 2011, she played several negative characters including a vile woman in E Bappa and a possessive woman in the psychological thriller Zaharu (2011) which fetched her another Best Supporting Actress nomination. Apart from starring in serious roles in films such as Love Story (2012), Emme Fahu Vindha Jehendhen (2015) and 4426 (2016), Najeeb also featured in several comedic roles in Baiveriyaa (2016), 40+ (2019), Maamui (2019), Jokaru (2023) and Bibii (2024). Her performances in these films received positive reviews, with critics praising her emotional depth and comedic timing.
Career 2000–04: Debut and early releases In 2000, Najeeb made her television debut with the role of Aminath, a young woman who, despite being obedient, is coerced by her stepmother into marrying an older businessman, in Abdul Faththaah's television drama series Dhoapatta. The series, which also starred Mohamed Shavin, Niuma Mohamed and Jamsheedha Ahmed, explores themes of unrequited love and the complexities of relationships within and beyond marriage. In the same year she portrayed Zeena, a college student, in Hussain Adil's romance Hiyy Halaaku, opposite Yoosuf Shafeeu and Niuma Mohamed, The plot combines two love triangles set years apart. The first half covers friends on a college campus, while the second tells the story of a widower's young daughter who tries to reunite her dad with his old friend. The film was an unofficial remake of Karan Johar's romantic drama film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Rani Mukerji in the lead role.
In 2001, Najeeb gained significant acclaim for her role in Aishath Ali Manik's Hiiy Edhenee (2001) which was an unofficial remake of Dharmesh Darshan's romantic film Dhadkan (2000) starring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Shilpa Shetty in the lead role. Featured opposite Ali Seezan and Asad Shareef, she played the role of Sheleen Yoosuf, a young woman from a wealthy and influential family, who is forced to marry a man she does not love. She next starred in a brief role opposite Asad Shareef in Ahmed Nimal's melodrama Hilihilaa (2001). Later that year, she featured alongside Yoosuf Shafeeu, Jamsheedha Ahmed, Mohamed Shavin and Ibrahim Giyas in Amjad Ibrahim-directed Aaah (2001), which revolves around two siblings involved in family business and the downfall of the younger brother's love life when he discovers his fiancée is already married to an abusive husband.
Apart from working in Amjad Ibrahim's romantic drama film Kahvalhah Dhaandhen (2002) opposite Yoosuf Shafeeu, Najeeb collaborated with Abdul Faththaah for his drama film Aan... Aharenves Loabivin (2002) starred alongside Ali Seezan, Niuma Mohamed, Aminath Rasheedha and Neena Saleem, where she played Sara, the only child in a family with a troubled relationship and a tragic incident that leads to her character suffering from amnesia. Upon release, the film opened to positive response from critics and performed well commercially.
In 2003, Najeeb rose to widespread prominence for her portrayal of a forbearing second wife in the critically acclaimed television series, Thiyey Mihithuge Vindhakee (2003), directed by Abdul Faththaah. The series was lauded for its high production quality and is regarded as one of the best in Maldivian television. The same year, she collaborated with Amjad Ibrahim for his romantic horror film Dhonkamana (2003). In this project, she played a supporting role in a story about a young man (Yoosuf Shafeeu) who becomes romantically involved with an older woman (Fauziyya Hassan). The film, which also starred Niuma Mohamed, Sheereen Abdul Wahid, Amira Ismail and Aminath Rasheedha, received mostly negative reviews from critics, although the depiction of a romantic relationship with a large age gap was praised.
Najeeb's next notable project was Eynaa (2004), a horror film directed by Abdul Faththaah. In the film, she starred alongside Mohamed Manik, Ahmed Shah, Khadheeja Ibrahim Didi, Ibrahim Jihad and Nashidha Mohamed, portraying one of six colleagues who journey to a haunted, uninhabited island. Eynaa garnered critical acclaim, particularly for its technical aspects, and was a commercial success. During the year, she starred in two television series, including Kamana Vareh Neiy and Loabi Nulibunas, directed by Amjad Ibrahim and Waleedha Waleed respectively.
2005–11: Critical acclaim with supporting roles Najeeb collaborated with Fathimath Nahula for the first time in her critically and commercially successful romantic drama television series, Kalaage Haqqugaa. She replaced Jamsheedha Ahmed after the seventh episode and portrayed the role of Nuzu, a depressive wife mourning the death of her husband. The series received praise for its engaging storyline and character development. Her next collaboration with Nahula was the romantic drama film Zuleykha (2005), which tells the story of a nine-year-old girl seeking to reunite her mother with her lost love. Featuring an ensemble cast including Yoosuf Shafeeu, Mariyam Nisha, Ali Seezan, Mohamed Manik and Mariyam Enash Sinan, Najeeb played the role of a villainous mother. Her performance earned her a Gaumee Film Award for Best Supporting Actress, and the film became the highest-grossing Maldivian release of the year, screening thirty-three housefull shows.
Following this, Najeeb starred in Amjad Ibrahim's romantic drama film Hithuge Edhun (2006), where she portrayed Nisha, a devoted wife abandoned by her husband. The film was well-received, and she earned a Gaumee Film Award nomination as the Best Supporting Actress. In the same year, she worked with Arifa Ibrahim on the romantic television drama series, Vaguthu Faaithu Nuvanees (2006) which follows two best friends in a love triangle. She replaced Mariyam Zuhura in the role of Shazma, a religious and submissive woman mistreated by her brother and sister-in-law. The series was well-received by audiences. The following year, she starred as one of the best friends who gets attracted to an outsider who visits their island for Eid holiday, in her husband's debut direction, Kalaa Dheke Varah Loabivey.
In 2008, Najeeb appeared in Fathimath Nahula's Yoosuf, a romantic drama about a deaf and mute man (played by Yoosuf Shafeeu) mistreated by a wealthy family. Najeeb played the role of a devoted friend to the titular character, which she described as one of the most challenging roles in her career, requiring her to perform many scenes through gestures. The film was a commercial success, earning a Maldives Film Awards for Best Supporting Actress, and was screened at the 2009 SAARC Film Festivals. During the year, she starred in multiple limited television series including the horror thriller Hama Ekani Kalaayahtakai, and Dark Rain Entertainment-produced series titled Yaasmin and Inthihaa. She also played significant roles in three short films released during the year, out of which her performance as an underprivileged wife in Faqeeru Koe (2008) garnered her a Maldives Film Award for Best Actress in the short film category.
In 2009, Najeeb starred in Ahmed Nimal’s E Dharifulhu, a family drama where she played a manipulative wife who tries to murder her sister. She received her first Maldives Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film. That year, she also appeared in Loaiybahtakaa (2009), a romantic drama written and directed by Yoosuf Shafeeu, where she portrayed a tailor who marries her best friend. The film, which also starred Fathimath Fareela and Mohamed Faisal, was a commercial success.
In 2010, Najeeb had several notable releases. Her first film of the year was Zalzalaa En'buri Aun, a horror film directed by Ahmed Nimal. It was a spin-off of Aslam Rasheed’s 2000 classic Zalzalaa. She portrayed Shahana, a greedy wife who murders her husband with the help of her secret lover. The film received mixed reviews from critics but performed average business at the box office. Despite the film’s lukewarm reception, Najeeb was nominated for Best Actress at the 6th Gaumee Film Awards, for her performance in the film. She next starred in Niuma Mohamed's directorial debut Niuma (2010), alongside Yoosuf Shafeeu, Mohamed Manik, Aminath Rasheedha and Abdulla Muaz. She played the role of Aminath, a whistleblower who attempts to protect her sister-in-law from being sexually abused by her father and brother. Upon release, the film received widespread critical acclaim, particularly praising the performances of the cast and the powerful dialogues. Her performance was widely appreciated, with many critics noting her dynamic expressions and emotions throughout the film. The film was a massive commercial success, screening over thirty housefull shows and becoming the highest-grossing Maldivian release of the year. At the 6th Gaumee Film Awards, she received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress, and she won the same category at the 2nd Maldives Film Awards.
The last release of 2010 was Heyonuvaane, a drama film directed by Yoosuf Shafeeu. In this film, she played the role of a ferocious wife who discriminates against and abuses her underprivileged husband. The film received mixed reviews from critics, but Najeeb’s performance stood out as a highlight. Critic Ahmed Naif from Sun remarked that Najeeb’s portrayal was the best performance from a heroine in that year. Despite the negative reception, the film became the second highest-grossing Maldivian release of the year, screening twenty-two housefull shows.
In 2011, Najeeb featured in two films, both of which failed to impress critics and audiences, although her performances were noted as the best from the cast. She appeared in Ali Shifau's psychological romantic thriller Zaharu alongside Ali Seezan and Niuma Mohamed. The film, inspired by the 1987 American thriller Fatal Attraction, centers on a married man who has an affair with a woman who becomes obsessed with him. She portrayed Shaheen, a devious woman who tries to trap her former school crush. The film was considered a flop at the box office, but Najeeb received a Best Supporting Actress nomination at both the 7th Gaumee Film Awards, and the 2nd Maldives Film Awards. Najeeb also starred in Yoosuf Shafeeu’s family drama E Bappa (2011), which received negative reviews and was a box office failure. However, her performance was praised by critics.
2012–23: Mature and comedy roles