‘I was confused… people kept telling me to stop doing entertainers’: Nivin Pauly on career choices
Actor Nivin Pauly, who is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film Sarvam Maya, directed by Akhil Sathyan, opened up about the box-office failures he faced in recent years, admitting that confusion and advice from those around him played a significant role in influencing some of his career choices.
In a conversation with actor-anchor Pearle Maaney, Nivin reflected on a phase when several of his films failed to click with audiences. He revealed that people close to him encouraged him to move away from light-hearted entertainers and explore more “serious” genres.
“There was a point in my life when I was confused. My friends and people close to me kept telling me that I shouldn’t just do entertainer films and that, as an actor, I should improve like others,” Nivin said in Malayalam.
He explained that the advice pushed him towards thrillers and genre films that were a departure from the comedy-driven roles that had defined his popularity. According to the actor, the same people later questioned his shift.
“They kept advising me that I wasn’t showcasing my full potential as an actor. They wanted me to do thriller films and other genres, not just comedy films. They felt that if I continued to do only comedy movies, I would become forgettable. At that moment, I also felt that maybe they were right. Maybe I should try different things as an actor. However, after I changed my choice of films to suit other genres, the same people came back and told me how much they missed my comedy films. I was like, ‘Weren’t you the ones who asked me to change?’”
Praise for Mohanlal’s Thudarum
During the same interaction, the discussion shifted to Mohanlal’s 2024 blockbuster Thudarum, directed by Tharun Moorthy. Nivin spoke highly about the film and its emotional impact.
“Thudarum was really good. It was brilliant. Seeing Lal sir like that, we just loved it. Emotionally, we connected deeply with the character. It was well-made. The villain was also very good,” he said.
Actor Aju Varghese, who joined the chat, echoed the praise and revealed that he was particularly impressed by Mohanlal’s action sequence in the police station. He said the jump during the fight scene stood out so much that he rewatched it several times after the film’s OTT release.
About Sarvam Maya
Directed by Akhil Sathyan, Sarvam Maya stars Nivin Pauly and Aju Varghese in pivotal roles. The film also features Janardhanan, Raghunath Paleri, Madhu Warrier, Altaf Salim and Preity Mukhundhan.
Produced by Ajay Kumar and Rajeev Menon under the Firefly Films banner, the film has music by Justin Prabhakaran, cinematography by Sharan Velayudhan and editing by Akhil Sathyan. Sarvam Maya is scheduled for a Christmas release. The film is scheduled to release in theatres on December 25, 2025.