Actor Aju Varghese has penned a heartfelt note praising Nivin Pauly following the box office success of Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, recalling the actor’s struggles and the prediction made by filmmaker Vineeth Sreenivasan years ago.

Sharing a throwback picture of Nivin Pauly from Vineeth Sreenivasan’s 2024 film Varshangalkku Shesham on Instagram, Aju congratulated the actor on achieving something he had missed out on earlier and praised him for facing the highs and lows of his career with patience and a smile.

“Congratulations on earning something u missed years back with patience, along with the struggles, all the ups n downs and all the harsh critics, with a pleasant smile.

You’re inspiring! Here's to many more Nivin Pauly

This picture is for a recall of Vineeth’s vision in placing a placard saying “Nithin Mollywood”, and he told me after narrating the scene this will happen real soon, very soon,” Aju Varghese wrote on Instagram.

Aju’s post came after Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, starring Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju in the lead roles, emerged as a major box office success.

Directed by Girish AD, the Malayalam romantic comedy is produced by Bhavana Studios, Fahadh Faasil, Dileesh Pothan and Syam Pushkaran. The film hit theatres on August 21, coinciding with the Onam festive season.

The film has received positive responses from audiences and critics, with performances, humour and its portrayal of the central romance among the aspects that have drawn praise.

The “Nithin Mollywood” reference goes back to Nivin Pauly’s character in Vineeth Sreenivasan’s Varshangalkku Shesham. Nivin plays Nithin Mollywood, a celebrated film star whose larger-than-life persona reflects the fame and stardom that the film’s characters aspire to achieve. Aju Varghese’s throwback picture recalls a scene in which a placard bearing the words “Nithin Mollywood” appears. According to Aju, Vineeth had told him while narrating the scene that what was depicted would become a reality “real soon, very soon."