Who is Nivin Pauly, the Malayalam movie star facing gang rape allegations?

Malayalam actor Nivin Pauly has found himself at the centre of a serious controversy after being accused in a case of gang rape and cheating. The allegations have been filed in Kerala’s Ernakulam district, with Pauly, 40, being named as one of the six accused.?

According to the victim’s complaint, she was lured with promises of a film role, which later led to her being sexually assaulted outside India.

Pauly, however, has denied these allegations, calling them baseless. “I don’t know who she is... this is baseless news,” Pauly stated during a press conference. He also took to social media, vowing to clear his name, saying that he will "prove these allegations are baseless."?

The Kerala police have registered an FIR, and an investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been initiated. This development comes after the release of the Hema Committee report on sexual exploitation within the Malayalam film industry, which also implicated several other notable actors.

Pauly has hinted at the possibility of a conspiracy against him, stating, “There might be others involved... my family is behind me.” FIRs have been filed against a total of 11 people in the film industry in connection with such cases.

A look at Nivin Pauly’s rise to fame in the Malayalam industry

Nivin Pauly is a well-known name in the Malayalam film industry, often praised for his roles in both romantic and action films. Some of his most famous works include Premam, Neram, Thattathin Marayathu, Ohm Shanthi Oshaana, and Oru Vadakkan Selfie.?

Born on October 11, 1984, in Aluva, Ernakulam, Pauly’s career started with a background far from the silver screen. He completed his engineering degree from the Federal Institute of Science and Technology (FISAT) and worked as a software engineer at Infosys before quitting his job following the death of his father.

In 2010, Pauly married his longtime girlfriend, Rinna Joy, and they now have two children—son Daveed Pauly and daughter Rose Treesa Nivin Pauly. His journey in cinema began the same year with his debut in the movie Malarvadi Arts Club, directed by Vineeth Srinivasan.?

This marked Srinivasan’s directorial debut as well. Pauly quickly gained recognition in the industry with roles in films such as The Metro, Sevenes, Traffic, and Spanish Masala. His breakout role, however, came in 2012 with the romantic drama Thattathin Marayathu, also directed by Vineeth Srinivasan. This movie was a turning point for Pauly, cementing his place as one of the leading actors in Malayalam cinema.

His Tamil film debut came in 2013 with Neram, a bilingual movie directed by Alphonse Puthren, where he shared screen space with actress Nazriya Nazim. Following that, he delivered box office hits like 1983 (2014), Ohm Shanthi Oshaana (2014), and Bangalore Days (2014). In 2015, Nivin Pauly won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in 1983, receiving widespread praise for his work.

Nivin Pauly was named the Most Desirable Man of 2015 by Kochi Times after his rustic style in Premam became a major trend. In 2017, he appeared as himself in the viral short film No Go Tell, aimed at educating children about sexual assault.

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The film was reviewed by the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. Nivin also played for the Kerala Strikers in the Celebrity Cricket League and was appointed youth ambassador for Kerala Blasters during the third season of the Indian Super League.

Over the years, Pauly has continued to showcase his versatility by taking on different types of roles. Films like Premam, Action Hero Biju (2016), Jacobinte Swargarajyam (2016), Sakhavu (2017), Moothon (2019), Love Action Drama (2019), and Mikhael have made him one of the most bankable stars in the industry. Pauly’s role in Moothon earned him the Best Actor award at the New York Indian Film Festival in 2020.

In addition to acting, Pauly has also ventured into production, launching his own production company, Pauly Jr. Pictures. Under this banner, he has produced films like Kanakam Kamini Kalaham, Action Hero Biju, and Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela.

Celebrated films of Nivin Pauly

?Premam: A romantic comedy released in 2015, Premam is considered one of Pauly’s most iconic films. Directed by Alphonse Puthren, the movie is regarded as a modern classic in the Malayalam industry, featuring actors like Sai Pallavi, Madonna Sebastian, and Anupama Parameswaran alongside Pauly.

Bangalore Days: Directed by Anjali Menon, Bangalore Days is a heartwarming story of three cousins, played by Nivin Pauly, Nazriya Nazim, and Dulquer Salmaan, who move to Bangalore and experience life-changing events. The film was both critically and commercially successful.

Action Hero Biju: In this 2016 movie, Pauly played the role of a sub-inspector who battles crime and corruption in his city. Directed by Abrid Shine, the film was a notable shift in Pauly’s career as he moved from romantic roles to intense action dramas.

Love Action Drama: A light-hearted rom-com, this movie, directed by Dhyan Sreenivasan, saw Pauly paired with Nayanthara in an entertaining mix of romance and comedy.

Neram: This 2013 romantic thriller was Pauly’s first Tamil film, directed by Alphonse Puthren. The movie featured a gripping narrative and marked Pauly’s entry into Tamil cinema.

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