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Yusuf Qasmi
Yusuf Qasmi is an Indian theatre personality who founded SMITA PATIL STREET THEATRE, a street theatre group, with a vision to spread awareness amongst masses for social issues.

His famous street play ANTH , which was listed in Limca Book of Recordsfor 6 consecutive times for performing 6606 shows, which is known as longest running street play.

Personal Life
Born on 12th Dec 1968 in north Karnataka Gulbarga, he is the only son of Haji Mhod. Khasim and Tahira Begum. In the year 1971, though his family moved to Mumbai, he completed his HSC from Gulbarga University, Karnataka.

During the year 1989, Mumbai was in the clutches of drugs after completing a short term para professional course in social work he has written street play ANTH, to spread awareness. The first shows of ANTH took place on Jan 11, 1989 at Sangam Maidan Jogeshwari East. Through this street plays Yusuf Qasmi has raised voice and started creating awareness among the masses. After that he started getting requests to do more street plays on social issues. Some of the early shows were supported by Mukti Sadan. It was surprise that he got threat from local drugs peddler, he acted as a whistle blower against the peddler later on the peddler was arrested by narcotics department. That made him a hero in his area.

He entered Bollywood because to achieve larger platform to express his views and help him in creating awareness for social issues.

He learned writing skills from his school friend Khalid Siddque’s uncle, legendary writer Mr Javed Siddiqui, where Mr. Javed used to share working experiences of veteran actress Smita Patil that inspires Yusuf Qasmi and he kept his theatre group’s name after her.

Yusuf also assisted renowned screen writer Kamlesh Pandey Ji who has written films like Narsimha, Dil, Beta, Aatish, Saudagar, Khalayanak etc.

In 1999 he joined ETv Urdu and Directed Documentary Film Shehenshah-E-Deccan based on Hazrat Khwaja Bandenawaz (RA).

He is casted as Main Villain in BIJUKA which is screened in Cannes Film Festival.

Career
Yusuf has a huge experience in conducting street plays & theatre shows. He worked as Associate Director with Ravi Davla for TV Serial Autostand, Telefilm Jadugar and Mukkamal Jahan telecasted on ETV Urdu and Associate Director to Abhinav Kashyap (Dabang fame) for TV Serial Siddhanth telecasted on Star One in 2004.

Feature Films
Yusuf Qasmi completed his feature Film Perfect Plan which was released on 20th May 2016, the film is awarded as best Indian film and best debut director. He is also working on another film SLUM KING based on street children.

Short Films
Written, directed or acted Main Babasaheb Ambedkar Bol Raha Hoon!

Street Plays

 * Plan Karo
 * Zimmedar Kaun?