Nimal made his career debut with
Nufoozu (1984), an initiation by Shareef and his colleagues. Initially assigned to work behind the camera, Shareef requested he star in the lead role of the film due to a date conflict of the original actor who had been offered the role first. Afterwards, he started working as a full-time actor and led an organization "Dhivehi Harakaaiy Jamiyya" along with Shareef. In 1993, Nimal wrote and directed his most successful release, a drama film,
Sitee starring opposite his wife, Fathimath Rameeza. Based on true incidents which occurred with a friend, the film focuses on a fisherman who later turns to be a successful businessman and his search for his father. The film and the song "Mulhi Jaan Hithaa" are considered to be his most "dedicated work in his career" since the latter took a month to be filmed while shot in five different islands from five atolls. The film follows a man who lost his life and endangered his whole family while being lured by a female spirit sent off to complete an unfulfilled prophecy. The following year, he worked in Aishath Ali Manik's
Hiiy Edhenee (2001) which was an unofficial remake of
Dharmesh Darshan's romantic film
Dhadkan (2000) starring
Akshay Kumar,
Suniel Shetty and
Shilpa Shetty in the lead role. Cast opposite
Ali Seezan and
Sheela Najeeb, he played the role of an influential and cunning stepfather. His next directorial venture was the film
Sababu starring opposite Ibrahim Giyas and
Aishath Shiranee in which he played the fiancé who sacrificed his love for the sake of his friend's happiness. In 2005, Nimal starred alongside
Niuma Mohamed,
Ali Seezan and
Sheereen Abdul Wahid in his horror film
Handhu Keytha (2005) which unfolds the story of a man who was enchanted by a spirit while witnessing a
lunar eclipse. In the film, he played the spell-maker trying to save his crush from the evil spirit. The film which primarily focuses on a wealthy troublesome couple whose possessions have been exposed by the disappearance of the husband, was mostly received positively by the critics. He next released a romantic film
Vaaloabi Engeynama (2006), starring
Yoosuf Shafeeu,
Mariyam Afeefa,
Fathimath Fareela and
Fauziyya Hassan in pivotal roles, was a critical and commercial success, considered to be the most successful Maldivian release of the year. Starring alongside
Ali Seezan,
Mariyam Afeefa and
Nadhiya Hassan, Nimal played the role of Ismail, a friend of a perfidious husband who is unwillingly seduced by woman. The film received mixed reviews from critics, specific appraisal being subjected to its bold and erotic theme. Featuring an ensemble cast including
Yoosuf Shafeeu,
Niuma Mohamed,
Mohamed Manik,
Mohamed Manik,
Fauziyya Hassan,
Ravee Farooq,
Zeenath Abbas and Ahmed Lais Asim, the film is considered to include most prominent faces in a Maldivian film. A total of forty-five full-house shows were screened at Olympus Cinema before the film was leaked online, however the producers were able to screen five more shows at the cinema making it one of the all-time highest-grossing Maldivian movies. The film was the Maldivian official entry at 2009 SAARC Film Festivals and held the privilege of being the opening movie of the festival. His performance earned him a
Gaumee Film Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. At the
1st Maldives Film Awards, Nimal received his first nomination as Best Director for his work in the film. Another release of the year,
Loaiybahtakaa (2009), written and directed by
Yoosuf Shafeeu stars him as a notable businessman who struggles to welcome his illegitimate son into his family. The romantic drama, co-starring
Yoosuf Shafeeu,
Fathimath Fareela and
Mohamed Faisal, tells the story of unrequited love, and proved to be a commercial success. The film showcases discrimination against the islanders, family revenge and fatherhood responsibilities. He next starred in the horror film ''
Zalzalaa En'buri Aun'' (2010) which was edited, written, produced and directed by himself. It was a spin-off to Aslam Rasheed's horror classic film
Zalzalaa (2000) starring,
Ibrahim Wisan,
Ali Shameel and
Niuma Mohamed. Later in 2010, Nimal appeared in a small role in
Veeraana as a government official who witness the confess of a murderer. Directed by
Yoosuf Shafeeu, it deals with
child sexual abuse. The film received mixed to positive reviews from critics; praising the writer and director for touching a condemnatory topic though criticizing its "over-the-top melodrama". He next reunited with
Niuma Mohamed in his horror film
The Three, which received negative reviews from critics and was declared to be a box office disaster. The duo next collaborated in
Niuma Mohamed's directorial debut drama film
Niuma (2010) alongside an ensemble cast including Mohamed,
Yoosuf Shafeeu,
Sheela Najeeb,
Mohamed Manik,
Aminath Rasheedha and
Abdulla Muaz. Upon release, the film was met with widespread critical acclaim specifically complimenting the performance of actors and its dialogues. Being able to screen over thirty full-house shows of the film, it was declared a Mega-Hit at box office, and the highest grossing Maldivian release of the year. The film fetched him a
Best Actor nomination at both,
2nd Maldives Film Awards and
6th Gaumee Film Awards. In 2012, Nimal played a rich father in
Ravee Farooq-directed romantic drama film
Mihashin Furaana Dhandhen alongside
Niuma Mohamed,
Mohamed Manik and
Ali Seezan. Upon release, the film received mixed response from critics while his performance was recognised positively. Ahmed Nadheem of
Haveeru noted the film as "the best Maldivian melodramatic film" he had seen in the past two years, though displeased with its similarities between two
Bollywood films. His portrayal of Asim in the film resulted in a
Gaumee Film Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The film was marketed as being the first 3D release for a Maldivian film and the first release derived from
spin-off. He played the role of Naseem, a spell maker. Upon release the film received generally negative reviews from critics. Mohamed Aboobakuru-directed
Randhari was Nimal's only release of 2015. His portrayal of the character Razzaq, a ruthless father, along with the film received negative reviews from critics and did below average business at the box office. The following year, he directed and starred in the horror film ''
E Re'ah Fahu'' (2016). Upon release, the film received negative response from critics and was declared a flop. His next appearance was Hussain Munawwar's
Neyngi Yaaru Vakivee alongside
Ahmed Azmeel and
Aminath Rishfa. Critics panned the film and labelled his performance as "boring" while criticising the character development. Despite the negative reviews, the film did an average business at the end of its run. In 2023, Nimal played the role of a wealthy husband in
Ali Seezan's erotic thriller
Loabi Vevijje, which follows a married man who becomes infatuated with a woman after a one-night stand. The film which was announced in 2019, but halted due to
COVID-19 pandemic, opened to generally positive reviews from critics, where as his performance received mixed reviews from critics. Aminath Luba reviewing from
The Press found his performance to be "strictly average, nothing exceptional". Similarly, Ahmed Nadheem from
Dhauru called his acting "not bad" and "generally okay". ==Personal life and death==