Shashi Wijendra

Mohammed Auff Haneefa (born 11 November 1959), popularly known as Shashi Wijendra (ශෂී විජේන්ද්‍ර), is a former actor in Sri Lankan cinema.[1] He was one of the most popular film actor in 1980s and 1990s.[2] He quit from acting in 1996.[3] Currently he is a businessman.

Shashi Wijendra
ශෂී විජේන්ද්‍ර
Born
Mohammed Auff Haneefa

(1959-11-11) 11 November 1959
Kandy, Sri Lanka
NationalitySri Lankan
Other namesShashi Quintus
EducationDharmadutha College, Badulla
Zahira College, Gampola
OccupationFilm Actor
Years active1985–1996
SpouseShaheena (m. 1996)
Children5
RelativesRanga Wijendra (Brother)
AwardsSarasaviya Most Popular Actor Award (1992)

Early life and education

Shashi Wijendra was born on 11 November 1959 in Kandy and is a Muslim by birth. He completed primary education from Badulla Dharmadutha College and secondary education from Zahira College Gampola.[4]

Acting career

He first entered stage dramas under Tamil producer. His stage name was "Shashi Quintus". However, he was unable to read and write Tamil. Therefore, he used to translate the dialogues into Sinhala and started to act. After few months, he quit from acting and started to write stage plays.[2] He produced the play Sahajatha and continued for more than 50 shows.[4]

In 1983 he left the country and went to Dubai. After two years he returned to Sri Lanka. Haneefa joined the cinema in 1985 with the film Obata Diwura Kiyannam directed by Sunil Soma Pieris and produced the film along with Anoja Weerasinghe. It was a Super Hit and became the highest grossing Sri Lankan film in 1985.[2] Then Shashi became a star in one night.[4] He used the stage name "Shashi Wijendra" in cinema. Since then, he acted in many popular commercial films such as Amme Oba Nisa, Shakthiya Obai Amme, Uthura Dakuna, Cheriyo Captain, Obata Pamanai Adare, Wana Bambara, Okkoma Rajawaru, Raja Daruwo, Sinha Raja, Bambasara Bisaw, Soora Veera Chandiyo and Vijay saha Ajay.[5] Most of his films are commercially successful and passed 100 days in theatres.[2] In 1992, he won the award for the most popular actor at Sarasaviya Awards.[6]

His brother Auff Munawer joined the cinema with Shashi and changed the name to Ranga Wijendra. He later became a film producer and director.[7] The two had even announced their removal from the mosque because of their departure from the Muslim community. Later he converted to Muslim again with his brother after it was reported that due to pressure from the Muslim community.[5] He and his brother quit from cinema at the peak of their career.[8] His last film was Putha Mage Sooraya directed by Ranjith Jayasinghe screened in 2011.[7]

Personal life

He is married to a Sinhala lady in 1996 who later converted to Muslim with the name Shaheena.[2] The couple have four sons and one daughter.[4] In 1996, Haneefa left Sri Lanka and went to Malaysia. He returned to Sri Lanka in 2013 and Participated TV Programme on Sirasa TV. It was his first public appearance after 17 years. He is currently a successful businessman who runs a mahogany project on Dambulla Road, Matale.[7]

Filmography
YearFilmRoleRef.
1985Obata Diwura KiyannamShashi
1987AhinsaParty guest
1988Amme Oba NisaShashi
1989Okkoma Rajawaru
1989Shakthiya Obai AmmeInspector S. D. 'Rannie' Randeniya / Asanka Randeniya
1990Jaya Shakthi
1990Wana BambaraDual Role
1991Uthura Dakuna
1991Sihina Ahase WasanthayaAmal
1991Obata Pamanai AdareSaman
1991Hithata Dukak Nathi MinihaInspector
1991Asai BayaiGamini
1991Love In BangkokSugath
1991Salambak HandaiRavi Wijesuriya
1991Cheriyo DoctorNalin
1992Raja DaruwoThushan Kaluperuma CID 'Charith'
1992Sinha RajaSamy
1992Okkoma Kanapita
1992Oba Mata WishwasaiSaman
1993Sagara ThilinaDasa
1993Bambasara BisawPraba
1993Soora Veera ChandiyoInspector Ruwan Gajanayake
1994Nohadan Kumariyo
1994AbhiyogayaSanka
1995Vijay Saha AjayVijay
1995Ira Handa Illa
1995Hitha Honda SurayoLawyer
1995Demodara PalamaKamal
1995Cheriyo CaptainRavi
1996Obatai Me Aradhana
1997Ramba Saha Madhu
1998Julietge BhumikawaSomasekera's friend
1999Anduru Sevaneli
2000Premila
2001Wasanthaye Kunatuwak
2002Seethala Gini KanduRosy's husband
2002Thahanam GahaWasantha
2003Sundarai AdareNuwan
2006Rana Hansi
2008Ai Oba Thaniwela
2011Putha Mage SurayaChamara / Priyantha

References
  1. "Shashi Wijendra films". IMDb. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  2. "Now I am not allowed to act". සරසවිය. December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  3. "Shashi Wijendra filmography". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  4. "A stingy lover of Sinhala cinema of the late 80s". Hiru FM. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  5. "Shashi Wijendra comes out as a Muslim after 17 years". dinanadakuna. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  6. "Road to Prestige 1964-2018". Sarasaviya. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  7. "Ausuf Hanifa Shashi Wijendra becomes Auf Hanifa and disappears from Muslim artists". praja.lk. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  8. "Here's what you can do now to change your name". gossipsreader. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
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