Nivin Pauly has a new project lined up, his landmark 51st film and this time he's sharing the screen with someone stepping into unfamiliar territory. Kannada star Rukmini Vasanth is set to make her Malayalam debut opposite him, in a film helmed by first-time director Nashid Famy.

Famy isn't a total newcomer to the industry, though. He previously wrote the blockbuster hit ‘Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey’, and now gets his shot in the director's chair with this high-profile pairing.

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The project was officially launched with a pooja ceremony on August 9, 2026, and is being jointly produced by Martin Prakatt Films and Nivin's own banner, Pauly Jr Pictures.

Adding to the excitement, Aju Varghese, a longtime collaborator of Nivin's will play an important role in the film as well. The full cast and crew list is expected to be announced soon.

Rukmini, based in Bengaluru, first won audiences over with her performances in the ‘Sapta Saagaradaache Ello’ films, and this Malayalam crossover marks a significant next step in her career.

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But that's not all these two have coming up.

Nivin is currently awaiting the Onam release of ‘Bethlehem Kudumba Unit’, directed by Girish AD and also starring Mamitha Baiju, hitting theatres on August 21.

Interestingly, his 50th film reunites him with ‘Premam’ director Alphonse Puthren, a pairing fans have been eager to see again.

Meanwhile, Rukmini has ‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups’ on the horizon, a Kannada gangster drama directed by Geetu Mohandas. The film stars Yash in the lead role, alongside a stacked cast featuring Tara Sutaria, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, and Nayanthara.