If 2026 had to be defined by one actor in Indian cinema, it’s safe to say Mamitha Baiju would be among the strongest contenders. The Kottayam native’s three hits this year — Jana Nayagan, Vishwanath & Sons and Bethlehem Kudumba Unit — have collectively made her one of the highest-grossing stars of the year. But it’s not just the numbers; Mamitha’s likeably awkward charm and sense of self both on and off camera, her astonishing ability to endear the characters she plays to audiences no matter how template-driven the script, and her unrehearsed public appearances, free from the trappings of PR-mandated stiffness, have all immersed her in the movie fandom consciousness of the moment.
Reels from Premalu and Dude featuring her still routinely pop up on feeds (the rewatch value of both her earlier films is equally strong), along with Mamitha’s viral renditions of “Oorum Blood” and “Ella Pugazhum”; the Instagram algorithm, it seems, can’t get enough of her. Perhaps, most of all, it is Mamitha’s innate refusal to play by the increasingly familiar rules of modern-day stardom — the relentless image-building and sameness that comes with trying to be everything to everyone — that makes her stand apart from the pack.
However, even Mamitha can’t escape the weariness that comes from a hectic time at the movies (coupled with the promotion cycle bandwagon) that’s kept her sick and out of action for a while, even as her last release, BKU, was officially declared the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time earlier this week.
Still, she finds time to talk to us, unpacking what has been a transformative 2026, discussing box-office, back-to-back age-gap romances, the curious experience of becoming a bona fide pop-culture fixture, and what comes next.
Excerpts from a conversation:
Before we get to 2026, we must talk about Dude, which will celebrate its one-year anniversary next month. It was the breakout hit nobody saw coming and the character of Kural cemented you as someone to watch out for in Tamil cinema. What is your favourite memory from Dude and why?
One of my favourite songs from Dude is “Oorum Blood” because we had so much fun shooting it. We actually shot it towards the end of the schedule, so it was a really enjoyable experience.
The scene I will always remember best is the breakup scene where Kural tells Agan, “Unakenna pa, nee romba cool dude.” I really prepared myself for that scene, and I was actually crying while performing it. So that will always remain one of my favourite scenes from the film.
When you signed VaS and BKU, did you think about the fact that they were both in the same niche genre of age-gap romances, and could come across as repetitive since they released back-to-back?
I heard the script of BKU almost three years ago, and I wanted to do it even then, but it wasn’t happening at the time. When I signed VaS, Premalu 2 was happening instead of BKU, so BKU wasn’t really part of my lineup at that point.
After hearing the script of VaS, I felt that it had a very different vibe from BKU. I really liked my character and the overall world of the film, so I signed it. Later, while I was working on VaS, Premalu 2 was cancelled and BKU was planned instead!
The release dates eventually came close to each other, which I hadn’t expected, but I don’t think it affected either film. The age-gap romance is the common factor, but apart from that, the films have completely different stories, characters and vibes.
Both films have received praise for the sensitive and thoughtful way in which they depict the age gap between the leading pair. But it's still an extremely dicey topic to represent on screen today; how did Venky Atluri and Girish AD convince you?
When I heard the scripts of both BKU and VaS, I found them very convincing because of how thoughtfully and intelligently the characters and the romances were written. I really loved the sensitivity and care with which the characters were portrayed.
Also, age-gap relationships are not something that feel foreign to me. I have seen examples of them in real life, and they exist around us and within our society. So while it is a sensitive subject, it is also something that is very much a part of the world we live in. That made it easier for me to understand and connect with these stories.
In both the films, it's the woman showing initiative and telling the man she likes him, which is unusual for Indian cinema. Did you enjoy the fact that for a change it's the heroine driving forward the romance and not the hero?
Yes, I really enjoyed playing characters who take the initiative and express their love to the man. That is something I particularly liked about both these characters. Both Maddy and Ashley are the ones who propose to the men they love.
Usually, in Indian cinema, we often see the male character taking the initiative while the female character waits for him to express his feelings. But I don’t think love should work that way. Whether it is a man or a woman, someone has to take the initiative. I have also seen many women around me, including my friends, take that step in real life.
What was your favourite Suriya film and favourite Nivin Pauly film before working with them? How did you prepare mentally to work alongside these established superstars?
It’s very difficult for me to pick just one Suriya sir film because I love so many of his films. Some of my favourites include Sillunu Oru Kadhal, Aadhavan, Ghajini and Kaakha Kaakha, among many others.
With Nivin sir, I think it all started with Thattathin Marayathu. I was studying in the fourth or fifth standard when I watched it, and I remember having a huge crush on someone because of that film and its songs. From there, I went on to watch Ohm Shanthi Oshaana, Premam, Oru Vadakkan Selfie, Love Action Drama and many more of his films.
Off-screen, it can definitely be difficult because they are such big stars, and you can’t help but feel a little starstruck when you see them. But once you’re in front of the camera and someone says “Action,” everything changes. You’re no longer thinking about the star in front of you; you’re simply playing your character.
Both of them are extremely experienced, so getting into the character and the scene comes naturally to them. Once we’re on set, everything else just fades away. That made it quite easy and comfortable for me to work with both of them.
Bethlehem Kudumba Unit recently became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time. Does the financial success of a film matter to you, and influence how you choose future projects?
When I choose a project, the first thing I look at is my character — who the character is and how she contributes to the film. The genre and the story or script are also important to me. After that, I look at the crew, the director and the actors. All of these factors are part of my checklist.
Whether the film will be commercially successful or not is not something I put first when I decide to do a project. But once the film is made and released, if the audience likes it and it also does well commercially, of course, we are extremely happy. It is an uplifting feeling for everyone involved, and we are always grateful when a film connects with the audience.
You are going to reunite with your Dude co-star Pradeep Ranganathan in his next venture. What can we expect from this next project together?
Our next project together is quite different. Pradeep is the producer of the film; we are not acting together this time. It is a different genre and a very different kind of film..
I can’t reveal much more at the moment, but I definitely believe people will enjoy the film.
What are your other upcoming films in Malayalam and Tamil?
In Malayalam, I have Hello, Dear, directed by Dinoj, with Sangeeth Prathap as my co-star.
In Tamil, I have a film that is being directed by six filmmakers. The title hasn’t been revealed yet. Pradeep Ranganathan is the producer, and I play the lead in the film.
There is also a lot of talk that you will work in Hindi soon. Is that something we can look forward to?
I always look for a good script first. If I come across a good Hindi script, I would definitely consider it. For me, the story and the character are what matter most.
Acting as the Tamil Nadu CM’s adopted daughter and main co-star in his last film is no mean feat. Have you spoken to him since? Have you sung “Elaam Pughazum” to him again?
I feel extremely blessed to have been a part of that film because I’m a huge fan of Vijay sir. Even after the release, we spoke a couple of times, and I made sure to wish him as well.
He is such a warm and friendly person. Despite being such a huge superstar, he would always speak to me very casually on set, almost like I was someone his age or a friend. That made me feel very comfortable around him.
He is extremely approachable, and I feel truly lucky and blessed to have met him and, more importantly, to have had the opportunity to share the screen with him.