The film was critically appreciated by critics and was a commercial success. The same year he played the role of an unbearable and confused step-father in Abdul Faththaah's directorial debut, "Himeyn Dhuniye" which received positive reviews from critics. The following year, he starred alongside Yoosuf Shafeeu, Sheela Najeeb, Jamsheedha Ahmed, Mohamed Shavin and Ibrahim Giyas in the Amjad Ibrahim-directed "Aaah" (2001) which revolves around two siblings involved in family business and the downfall of the younger brother's love life when he discovers his fiancé is already married to an abusive husband. This was followed by Fathimath Nahula's drama film "Naaummeedhu" (2001) which depicts the story of a happily married couple whose life is shattered into pieces when they unintentionally invite a seductive woman into their life. The film received favourable reviews from critics and emerged as the highest grossing Maldivian film of the year. Manik collaborated with Easa Shareef for the horror film "Ginihila" (2003) alongside Ali Seezan, Niuma Mohamed, Mariyam Nisha and Reeko Moosa Manik, playing the role of Ibrahim Rafeeu, father of a mentally unstable young girl who commits suicide when her boyfriend rebuked her demand to leave his wife for her. The film narrates the story of a young couple who decide to spend a romantic break to save their crumbling marriage and how events take a sinister turn when the wife experiences supernatural incidents involving her husband. The film is an unofficial remake of Vikram Bhatt's Indian horror film "Raaz" (2002) featuring Bipasha Basu, Dino Morea, Malini Sharma and Ashutosh Rana which itself is an unofficial adaptation of "What Lies Beneath". Manik received critical acclaim for his "authentic" performance as a pervert in Abdul Faththaah's critically praised romantic film "Vehey Vaarey Therein" (2005). Featuring Jamsheedha Ahmed, Khadheeja Ibrahim Didi, Mohamed Shavin, Amira Ismail and Aminath Rasheedha in pivotal roles, the film narrates the story of unrequited love, and proved to be one of the highest-grossing Maldivian films of the year. Moomin Fuad and Ali Shifau's critically appreciated crime film "Heylaa" (2006) featured Manik in a small role as a concerned citizen.