Meet Riya Shibu of Sarvam Maya: At 21, She Has Produced More Films Than Acted In

At just 21, Riya Shibu is emerging as one of the most intriguing young names in the Malayalam film industry. Currently winning praise for her performance as the lively young ghost Delulu in the supernatural fantasy comedy Sarvam Maya, Riya’s journey stands out for a rare reason — she has produced more films than she has acted in at this early stage of her career.

Released during Christmas 2025, Sarvam Maya marked a major comeback for Nivin Pauly and quickly turned into a box-office success. The film crossed Rs 50 crore worldwide within five days of release, cementing its place among the biggest Malayalam hits of the year. While Nivin Pauly’s return drew attention, Riya Shibu’s performance as Delulu emerged as one of the film’s most talked-about elements, earning appreciation for its energy, timing, and screen presence.

Interestingly, Sarvam Maya is only Riya’s second release as an actor. She made her acting debut in the 2024 Malayalam sports drama Cup, opposite Mathew Thomas. Although the film did not perform well commercially, it marked her formal entry into acting. The success of Sarvam Maya is now widely seen as a turning point that has brought her acting potential into sharper focus.

What truly sets Riya apart, however, is her parallel career as a film producer. Despite her young age, she already has four production credits to her name. Her producer portfolio includes Thugs, Mumbaikar, Mura, and Veera Dheera Sooran: Part 2. The last of these proved to be her biggest production success so far, receiving positive reviews and grossing over Rs 63 crore worldwide.

Riya comes from a well-known film family. She is the daughter of veteran producer and distributor Shibu Thameens, whose banner Thameens Films has backed major projects across Tamil and Malayalam cinema. Despite her industry background, Riya’s entry into films was not immediate. Before stepping into cinema, she built a strong presence on social media, amassing over 700,000 followers on Instagram and gaining popularity through short-form videos on platforms such as Dubsmash and Musical.ly.

Her educational background includes a degree in Visual Communications from Loyola College, Chennai, after schooling at Trivandrum International School. This creative training, combined with hands-on production experience, has helped her navigate both the artistic and business sides of filmmaking.

Riya’s work ethic has also impressed industry veterans. Actor Vikram, who collaborated with her on Veera Dheera Sooran: Part 2, publicly praised her professionalism and energy, predicting a bright future for her in the industry.

With an upcoming acting role in Athiradi, alongside Tovino Thomas, Basil Joseph, and Darshana Rajendran, Riya Shibu appears poised to expand her presence further. Balancing acting ambitions with a growing producer’s portfolio, she represents a new generation of film personalities shaping cinema both in front of and behind the camera.