Ismail Wajeeh

While studying in primary school, Wajeeh, along with his nephews used to perform songs and stage shows to small gatherings.^[1] While studying in grade 4, he was offered to be part of an English radio drama produced by the Voice of Maldives, titled "The Enormous Turnip".^[1] During his secondary education, he played small roles in stage dramas as an extra.^[1] In 1982, he got offered by the leading theatre performing group, Cultural and Drama Society (CDS) to be part of their group.^[1]

In 1984, while Wajeeh was working in Television Maldives, he meets the director Mohamed Hilmy, a friend of his brother, who asked Wajeeh if he is interested to be the lead actor of his upcoming film, Chuttee (1984), to which he agrees instantly.^[1] In the film, he played a shady character which was well received by the critics and audience.^[1]

The Mohamed Hilmy and Ali Waheed directed film, Ihsaas was released in 1993 in which Wajeeh starred as an orphan who is psychologically disturbed following a false arrest. His "genuine" performance received positive reviews from critics and resulted in winning a Gaumee Film Award for Best Actor. The next year, he starred in Ali Waheed-directed Kulunu where he played the role of a doctor who is forced to marry his childhood friend.^[2] Mariyam Shauqee's widely acclaimed family drama television series Kahthiri was released in 1997; here Wajeeh played the role of a stay home husband, living in a congested housing complex while dealing with various social issues.^[3]

In 2000, he appeared in two films; Hussain Shihab's drama film Rihun and Mohamed Ali Manik's Maazee alongside Jamsheedha Ahmed, Mariyam Nazima and Aminath Rasheedha which narrates the story of two best friends, a boy and a girl, who get separated at childhood and reunite as adults.^[4] Ahmed played the role of underprivileged young man who turns into a successful person due to his hardwork and determination.^[1]

The following year he starred as a widower in the Abdulla Sujau and Abdul Faththaah-directed family drama Ranmuiy (2001) which is centered on the dispute between a daughter and her step-mother.^[1] The film was heavily marketed for its item song featuring himself and Indian actress Rajeshwari, which also marks the first international collaboration in the local industry.^[5][6] Afterwards, he relocated to Singapore and disappeared in all local productions.

Sixteen years later, Wajeeh made a comeback in a special appearance with the Dark Rain Entertainment's production, the romantic comedy Mee Loaybakee (2017) followed by another of their comedy films Maamui (2019).^[7][8]

Apart from acting, Wajeeh served as the Assistant Principal in Jamaluddin School.^[1] Afterwards, he started working as a program coordinator at Television Maldives.^[1] He married a Singapore-Indian woman residing in Singapore and relocated to Singapore in 2001, hoping to provide better education for their children.^[1]