‘I am woke’: Nivin Pauly’s Gen Z humour BTS video with Riya Shibu goes viral | WATCH

As Sarvam Maya continues to win hearts in theatres, a behind-the-scenes video featuring main leads Nivin Pauly and actress Riya Shibu has gone viral on social media.

In the clip, Nivin Pauly is seen engaging in a light-hearted exchange with Riya Shibu, with the conversation filled with Gen Z slang and expressions. While Riya effortlessly keeps pace with the terminology, Nivin humorously struggles to follow along, despite confidently declaring “I am woke” at the start. His playful confusion, paired with Riya’s ease and charm, has amused viewers and drawn widespread attention.

The video, captioned with phrases such as “Manifesting like Gen Z, overthinking like Gen Y” and “The Gen Z x Gen Y talks”, has struck a chord with audiences for its relatability and candid tone. Fans have described the interaction as warm and endearing, reflecting everyday generational gaps, which has helped the clip spread rapidly online.

The chemistry between Nivin Pauly and Riya Shibu has also been widely appreciated, mirroring their on-screen rapport in Sarvam Maya. Riya Shibu, who made her acting debut in Kappa (2022), first gained popularity through TikTok and Dubsmash videos before entering films. She is the daughter of noted producer Shibu Thameens and has gradually built her presence in Malayalam cinema. Her performance in Sarvam Maya is being viewed by many as a potential turning point in her career.

Directed by Akhil Sathyan, Sarvam Maya marks an important comeback for Nivin Pauly following a series of professional setbacks in recent years. The horror-comedy fantasy film received positive reviews from critics and has performed strongly at the box office, despite clashing with Mohanlal’s Vrusshaba. Trade estimates suggest the film has collected around Rs 19 crore gross so far, with a significant share coming from international markets. The four-day weekend collections are estimated at approximately Rs 45 crore, and the film is expected to achieve higher milestones if it sustains its weekday performance.

The film features an ensemble cast including Riya Shibu, Preity Mukundhan, Janardhanan, Raghunath Paleri and Aju Varghese. It is produced by Ajaya Kumar and Rajeev Menon under the banners of Firefly Films and Akhil Sathyan Films, with music composed by Justin Prabhakaran.

Beyond box office numbers, the viral BTS video has further boosted the film’s visibility, reinforcing Nivin Pauly’s renewed connection with audiences and underlining the youthful, contemporary appeal of Sarvam Maya.