‘You trusted me’: Riya Shibu reacts as ‘Sarvam Maya’ Delulu sparks ‘crushing every day’ frenzy
The phenomenal success of director Akhil Sathyan’s ‘'Sarvam Maya'’ has not only marked a powerful comeback for Nivin Pauly, but has also given Malayalam cinema a brand-new crowd favourite—Riya Shibu’s ‘Delulu’.
After a prolonged rough patch, Nivin Pauly is firmly back in the box office race. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, 'Sarvam Maya' grossed ₹44 crore worldwide in just five days, making it one of the biggest Malayalam successes of 2025 so far.
While Nivin has been widely praised for his performance, it is Riya Shibu who has unexpectedly stolen the spotlight. Social media has now officially crowned her the ‘Delulu Queen’.
From X to Instagram, timelines are flooded with admiration for the young actor’s portrayal of the bubbly, endearing ghost. One X user wrote, “Today and everyday crushing on Delulu Riya Shibu, what an actress!” Another fan called it the “best written Malayalam film of 2025”, adding, “Delulu Riya Shibu, what an actress you are.”
On Instagram, a glowing comment read: “It is after a long time that I am seeing such a magnificent performance. My heart is full.”
Amid this overwhelming response, Riya shared an emotional note thanking director Akhil Sathyan and veteran filmmaker Sathyan Anthikad, crediting them for the love her character is receiving.
“Everyone has Delulu in their hearts because you both trusted me,” Riya wrote, adding that she would remain forever indebted to them. “Thank you for looking after me like your own child. Working with the Anthikad universe is like spending time with your family.”
Though 'Sarvam Maya' is only her second acting venture, cinema is hardly unfamiliar territory for the 21-year-old. Riya is already an established producer, having backed notable South Indian projects, including a major film headlined by ‘Chiyaan’ Vikram.
The daughter of renowned producer-distributor Shibu Thameens of Thameens Films—the banner behind films like ‘ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi’, ‘Puli’ and ‘Iru Mugan’—Riya first built a massive following through short-form videos on TikTok, Dubsmash and Musically, before transitioning to the big screen.
With 'Sarvam Maya' continuing its dream run and ‘Delulu’ turning into a cultural favourite, Riya Shibu’s rise—from social media creator to producer to the internet’s newest screen obsession—has become one of the most compelling cinema stories of the year.
Box office performance:
‘Sarvam Maya’ has continued its steady run at the box office, putting up solid numbers through its first week in theatres. The film earned an estimated ₹26.40 crore net in India in its first six days, driven by strong weekend growth and consistent weekday collections.
After opening at ₹3.35 crore on Day 1, collections picked up on Friday and Saturday, climbing to ₹3.9 crore and ₹4.85 crore respectively, before peaking at ₹5.8 crore on Sunday.
While weekday numbers saw a natural dip, the film still managed a respectable ₹4.25 crore each on Monday and Tuesday, taking the six-day total close to ₹26.40 crore. On Day 7 (Wednesday), it added another ₹0.61 crore, bringing its total India net collection to ₹27.01 crore, underscoring its status as a strong first-week performer.