Who is Riya Shibu? The 'Sarvam Maya' actress is gaining attention as 'Delulu', has donned many feathers on her cap.
The latest Malayalam release, Sarvam Maya, is gaining a lot of attention currently and has been appreciated for its mix of humour and comedy. The film, starring Nivin Pauly and Aju Varghese, opened to positive reviews and is gaining significant attention. However, it is Riya Shibu who has been getting the spotlight and has turned into an overnight sensation.
Born in 2004, Riya Shibu entered the entertainment industry at a very young age. Riya studied at Trivandrum International School before moving to Chennai for higher education. She later went to Loyola College and pursued a degree in Visual Communication. Riya made her acting debut opposite Mathew Thomas in the 2024 Malayalam movie, Cup.
In Sarvam Maya, Riya plays 'Maya Mathew Manjooran', the embodiment of a cute, innocent ghost, also known as 'Delulu'. Her character has been widely appreciated by the audience, who couldn’t get over her, making her one of the most-talked-about newcomers this season.
Riya Shibu’s father, Shibu Thameens, is a famous producer and distributor, and she has been around films from a very young age. Instead of focusing on becoming an actress, Riya started working behind the camera at a young age.
At the age of 18, Riya got the title of a producer. She produced the Tamil action-drama Thugs in 2023, a remake of the 2018 Malayalam film, Swathanthryam Ardharathriyil. In the same year, she produced Vikrant Massey and Vijay Sethupathi’s Mumbaikar. In 2024, she bankrolled the thriller, Mura. In 2025, Riya produced Veera Dheera Sooran: Part – 2, featuring Vikram, SJ Suryah, Suraj Venjaramoodu, and Dushara Vijayan in key roles.
Vikram, who worked with Riya during Veera Dheera Sooran: Part 2, was blown away by her talent. He couldn’t believe that she was such a bundle of talent at such a young age. During the promotional event for Veera Dheera Sooran, he spoke about Riya and said:
“She is a producer who truly blew me away. I first met her on the day of the photoshoot. Just a young girl, standing there so calmly holding a camera. I remember thinking, ‘Is she actually the producer?’ Then I saw one of her reels — it was incredible! Man, what energy! I wondered, ‘How does she even do all this?’ I also saw her dancing brilliantly at a wedding, and I was stunned once again. Riya, you have a long way to go.”
Before stepping into the cinema, Riya had garnered attention through her social media presence. She started creating short videos on Dubsmash and TikTok. During the lockdown, Riya became active on social media, and her reels gained significant traction. Ever since she played 'Maya' in Sarvam Maya, her fans have nicknamed her ‘Delulu’ and have been awestruck by her cuteness. With her latest release, Riya has become a major sensation.
Have you seen Riya Shibu’s performance in Sarvam Maya?
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