After completing his graduation, Maqbool decided to take up acting seriously. He never wanted to use his uncle's identity and fame to make his entry into cinema. He then approached director
Fazil, who was looking for new faces for the film
Living Together, but was rejected a role. The acclaim Maqbool gained through
Asuravithu helped still photographer Aneesh Upasana choose him for the lead role in
Matinee, which would mark the latter's directorial debut. The film was produced by AOPL Entertainment, which had earlier that year successfully launched Maqbool's cousin
Dulquer Salmaan through
Second Show.
Matinee opened to positive reviews from critics and audiences alike and was declared a hit. Maqbool also won positive feedback for his performance, with the critic from
Rediff saying: "Maqbool's 'the guy next door' look in the film lend authenticity to the character he plays." His third film was
Parayan Baaki Vechathu, released in 2014, a political thriller by Karim, who had earlier directed
Agni Nakshatram.
Anumol was Maqbool's heroine in the film. In 2018, he acted again with Mammootty in Abrahaminte Santhathikal in which he played a negative role. == Filmography ==