Malayalam actress Mamitha Baiju has credited filmmaker Girish AD for believing in her abilities and trusting her with the role of Ashley in Bethlehem Kudumba Unit. Speaking at the film’s success celebration in Kerala, the actress recalled that the director had considered her for the character even before she gained widespread recognition through Super Sharanya and Premalu.
Mamitha expressed her gratitude for the filmmaker’s confidence, particularly during a period when she was still unsure about her ability to carry a leading female role. She also acknowledged the contributions of the film’s cast and crew, whose collective efforts helped the romantic comedy achieve remarkable commercial success.
Mamitha Baiju Recalls Girish AD’s Early Confidence in Her
During the success celebration of Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, the 25-year-old actress shared how Girish AD had introduced her to the film’s story shortly after the shooting of Super Sharanya wrapped up. At that point, Super Sharanya had not yet been released in theatres.
Recalling their conversation, Mamitha said that Girish had already expressed his wish to see her play the character of Ashley. She admitted that she still did not fully understand what had given him such confidence in her abilities.
The actress explained that the director’s faith in her meant a great deal, especially when she herself was uncertain about taking on a lead heroine’s role.
Referring to both Premalu and Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, Mamitha said Girish had believed in her even when she struggled to believe she could handle such prominent roles. She expressed her heartfelt thanks to the filmmaker for trusting her talent at an early stage of her career.
She also extended her appreciation to everyone involved in the making of Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, recognising their role in the film’s success.
Bethlehem Kudumba Unit Becomes Malayalam Cinema’s Biggest Hit
Released in theatres on August 21, 2026, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit has emerged as a major box office success. The Malayalam romantic comedy received a strong response from audiences and continued to attract viewers through positive word-of-mouth.
The film stars Nivin Pauly as Justin and Mamitha Baiju as Ashley. It has reportedly earned ₹333.09 crore worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time.
The project was produced by Bhavana Studios, Fahadh Faasil, Dileesh Pothan and Syam Pushkaran. Its supporting cast includes Suresh Krishna, Sangeeth Prathap, Vinay Forrt and Bindu Panicker.
Ajmal Sabu handled the cinematography, Akash Joseph Varghese served as the editor, and Vishnu Vijay composed the music.
Girish AD Shares the Story Behind the Film’s Development
Girish AD revealed that the idea for Bethlehem Kudumba Unit took shape after an unexpected setback involving the development of Premalu 2. The sequel project was shelved, resulting in the team losing nearly a year.
Despite the delay and disappointment, the filmmakers regrouped and moved ahead with Bethlehem Kudumba Unit. The project was completed quickly and went on to achieve commercial success beyond the team’s expectations.
The film’s strong theatrical performance has since been followed by its digital release. Bethlehem Kudumba Unit began streaming on JioHotstar on October 2, 2026.
Mamitha Baiju’s appreciation for Girish AD highlights the importance of the director’s early confidence in her talent. Their collaboration has resulted in a film that has achieved a historic box office milestone for Malayalam cinema.