Nathasha Jaleel

Before pursuing a career in acting, Jaleel was an active TikTok user, which won her recognition as a performer.^[1] During this time, she was featured in several advertisements and took part in few acting workshops.^[1] At the end of such one workshop, actor Mohamed Munthasir offered her one of the main roles in his sitcom web series, Thin Bibee (2019).^[1]

However, it was her next role, Ravee Farooq-directed web series Ehenas which "promoted her acting ability".^[2] this series follows the experiences of a male victim of long-term domestic and sexual abuse, and the societal obstacles he faces when attempting marriage. Jaleel appeared in its second season as Farzana, an empowered single mother.^[3] Ifraz Ali from Dho? wrote: "In this season, Jaleel's fantastic performance is the only factor that poured petrol on a dying fire".^[4]

During the filming of Thin Bibee, Fuad offered her a side role in his period drama web television series Gamini. She accepted the role, hoping it would "pave the path" for her career.^[5][1] Her performance in the series as the wife of the island's chief was positively received by critics. One critic wrote in Dho?, "Jaleel has proved that a genuine performance and a strong screen presence can grab the limelight even with minimal dialogues".^[6][4] In the same year, she featured in Madhoship Studio's three-part short film Thadhu, which narrates the consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak, and the perception of lockdown in Male' City, through the eyes of three people.^[7] In the film she played the role of a hardworking frontline doctor working amid the COVID-19 pandemic.^[8] She recalled the project as "frightening experience" requiring the actors to wear extensive PPE kit.^[1] She was also part of the ensemble cast of Yoosuf Shafeeu's romantic comedy web-series Huvaa Kohfa Bunan, where she played the wife of a man who is a hardcore fan of a local actress.^[9]

The following year, she starred alongside Ismail Rasheed in Moomin Fuad's crime drama short film Feehaali, which got positive reviews from critics.^[10]