Nivin Pauly reveals what made his age-gap romance with Mamitha Baiju work in 'BKU'

Malayalam actor Nivin Pauly is enjoying the success of his latest film, 'Bethlehem Kudumba Unit' (BKU), which has emerged as Mollywood's highest-grossing release, reportedly collecting over Rs 331 crore worldwide. Directed by Girish AD and co-starring Mamitha Baiju, the romantic comedy surpassed the box-office record set by the 2025 blockbuster 'Lokah: Chapter 1'. 

Despite the film's remarkable theatrical run, Nivin admitted that he had never anticipated such an overwhelming response to a relatively simple story. The actor, who is now preparing to explore a darker side of his acting abilities with an antagonistic role in the Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU), also shared updates on his upcoming projects.

In a recent interview with Variety India, Nivin discussed the factors behind 'BKU's' success, his off-screen friendship with Mamitha and his decision to take on a villainous character after appearing in consecutive feel-good romantic comedies.

Nivin Pauly on 'BKU's' unexpected box-office success

Reflecting on the film's performance, Nivin said its success challenged the popular belief that only lavish productions and big-budget spectacles could achieve record-breaking collections.

“People often assume that a film needs a huge budget, big sets, foreign locations, and a grand scale to break box-office records. This simple film has done that and I think it surprised everyone, including us. The truth is that when a film connects with people emotionally and is made with sincerity and honesty, audiences respond. They want something they can relate to—something that helps them relax and disconnect from stress for a few hours.

The biggest compliment I received was that the film took away people’s stress for three hours,” he said.

According to the actor, the film's ability to offer audiences a relatable and comforting cinematic experience contributed significantly to its popularity.

Nivin Pauly on his chemistry with Mamitha Baiju

One of the central elements of 'Bethlehem Kudumba Unit' is the unconventional age-gap romance between Nivin and Mamitha's characters.

Speaking about how they approached the relationship on screen, Nivin credited their friendship outside cinema for helping them establish a convincing connection.

“Mamitha and I have been good friends for years, so we already knew each other well. We used to talk about our dreams, cinema, family, scripts, and career choices. If she had doubts about a script or a film, she would call me and I would share advice from my experience. Because of that friendship, we did not approach the relationship in the film as two people separated by age. We approached it as two close friends working together, and that comfort helped the dynamic feel natural,” he explained.

The actor suggested that their familiarity with each other allowed them to approach the characters without being overly conscious of the age difference portrayed in the film.

Nivin Pauly reveals details about his villainous role in LCU

After winning over audiences with romantic and light-hearted characters, Nivin is preparing for a significant change with his entry into filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj's Lokesh Cinematic Universe.

The actor confirmed that he will be portraying an antagonist, a role that promises to be considerably different from his recent performances.

“It is always good to surprise the audience. After doing two back-to-back feel-good romantic comedies, it felt like the right time to offer something different. Playing an antagonist will surprise them. The film is big in scale, with large sets and high-quality production, and I hope it does well. Although the villain is dark and cruel, he also has a touch of dark humour, which made the role exciting to explore,” he said.

While Nivin did not disclose further details about the character or the storyline, his remarks suggest that the role will combine a menacing personality with elements of dark comedy.

The actor also expressed optimism about the film, highlighting its ambitious production scale.

What's next for Nivin Pauly?

Apart from his involvement in the LCU, Nivin is set to appear in another romantic comedy, tentatively titled 'NP51', alongside Kannada actress Rukmini Vasanth. The project will mark their first on-screen collaboration.

Sharing an update on the film, Nivin revealed that he and Rukmini had worked together for only a few days before filming was interrupted.

According to the actor, the team initially paused production for the Onam holidays. The break was subsequently extended following the death of a colleague, as the team observed a period of mourning.