Yusuf Qasmi

Yusuf Qasmi, born on 12th December 1968 in North Karnataka, Gulbarga, is an Indian theatre person who works as a Writer, Director, and Actor in the Indian film industry. He is the only son of Haji Mohammad Khasim and Tahira Begum. His family shifted to Mumbai in 1971. He founded SmitaPatil Street Theatre with the objective of spreading awareness against social evils through his famous street plays like Anth, which is listed five times in the Limca Book of Record for performing 6,554 shows, making it the longest-run street play. In 1989, Mumbai was under the clutches of drugs.

After completing a short-term Para-professional course in social work, he wrote the street play Anth to spread awareness. The first show of Anth took place on 11th January 1989 at SangamMaidaan, Jogeshwari East, Mumbai. Through his street plays, Yusuf Qasmi raised a voice against social evils and created awareness among the masses. All of this led him to fame; he started receiving requests to do more street plays on social issues after this. MuktiSadan supported some of the early shows. He also got some local drug dealers arrested by the narcotics department even after receiving threats from them. He later entered the film industry with the motive of having a larger platform to express his views and create awareness regarding social issues.

Furthermore, he learned writing skills from his school friend, Khalid Siddique’s uncle, a legendary writer, Javed Siddiqui Sahab. JavedSahab used to tell his shared work experiences with veteran actress SmitaPatil to Yusuf Qasmi, which inspired him to name his theatre after her. Yusuf also assisted renowned screenwriter Kamlesh Pandey Kamlesh Pandey is an Indian Screenwriter. He works >> Read More... ji, who has written films like Tezab, Narsimha, Dil, Beta, Saudagar, and KhalNayak. In 1999, he joined ETV Urdu and directed a documentary film, Shahenshah-e-Deccan, based on HazratKhwaja Banda Nawaz (R.A.). He also acted as the main Villain in the movie Bijuka, which was screened at the Cannes Film Festival.

He has worked as the associate director to AbhinavKashyap for the TV serial Siddhanth telecasted on Star One in 2004. Yusuf also appeared in the famous Indian reality TV show SachkaSaamna on 8th September 2009. Yusuf Qasmi completed his feature film, “Perfect Plan,” which was released on 26th May 2016. The film was awarded as the best Indian film and best debut director. He also worked on another film, “Dushkarm”, which is on the topic of rape.