Nivin Pauly has become truly dependable for Malayalam film makers because of the positive returns and reviews his films have been making for some time now.
Films such as Thattathin Marayathu, Neram, 1983, Om Shanthi Oshana, Bangalore Days, Vadakkan Selfie and Premam have reaped Rs 100 crores or more from theatres. Television rights for these films are not included in this figure. His accomplishments, in such a short time, are spectacular considering that he is competing in a stars-ruled industry. His smooth sailing to the superstar status is similar to Dileep who attained the status through Meesha Madhavan and other subsequent films. The actor has so far acted in 24 films and his latest film in the making is Action Hero Biju.
Perhaps Nivin Pauly made the achievement because of his down-to-earth roles. Unlike macho or high-profile heroes, Nivin's characters essay the basic essence of each filmgoer and he has therefore been able to build rapport with the common people. Another factor that has made him popular is the romantic hero roles that he has mostly essayed.
He says, "I enjoy being a romantic hero. Friends sometimes tease me that the heroes I essay often fail. In fact that is what happens in real life, is it not? In real life, people who failed would be more than those who have won; The same is the case in love as well. And people tend to stand along with those who fail." He was speaking while travelling to Padma Theatres to watch his latest flick Premam from his shooting site at Fort Kochi. Meanwhile someone sent him a message that his Premam had become a hit.
Nivin Pauly is amazingly flexible with his looks. Shave off the moustache and he can pass off as a school kid. Sprout it a bit and he can pass of as a college guy. Grow a beard and he looks mature. This flexibility in his looks also reflects in his body language.
He says," This is possible only now. If you want to act as a college student later, can you?"
Even though he has not struggled at Kodambakkam for a chance in films, he has spent a lot of time mulling on how to enter the industry. When new actors were invited for Malarvaady Arts Club, Alphonse Puthren encouraged him to apply with a photo in which he had a beard on. After completing engineering and getting a job at Infosys, he said to his father, "I am resigning this job, this is not for me."
While his father did not admonish him, he advised a planned move because it was the time of economic strife. On that advice, he spent two years at Infosys. The next two years was blank for Nivin because that was the time he took to step into an actor's shoes. Those two years saw his father passing away and his college mate Rinna becoming his wife. He says, "Alphonse was established then and I thought that if nothing happened, I would show my face in his films. Neram was made into a short film and I was betting on its success in YouTube to take my acting career forward. However, before Neram, I got my break.”
Nivin is not interested in going behind a lot of films and is interested only in pursuing a few. The butterfly in Premam does not visit all flowers. It pecks only at a few it likes.