Nivin Pauly's latest release Richie has opened to mixed reviews from critics and audience alike. On the day of the movie's release, Mollywood's popular actor-director Roopesh Peethambaran criticised the Nivin Pauly starrer through his social media page. He wrote, " Rakshit Shetty, I know you on a personal level since my struggling days and I have always admired ur work as an Actor, Writer and a Director and Ulidavaru Kandante is a superior work of art!! It's pretty hard to imagine how a masterpiece turned into a piece!! Bravo for 'Ulidavaru Kandante'."

He later added a note - "Please note - I'm only appreciating a friend's work from the past". Roopesh also posted another one saying, "Nivin Pauly, tell ur fans that I was praising Ulidavaru Kandante not bitching Richie!!" As the troll level continued to go beyond the limit, Roopesh put up another post apologising the fans. 

''More than an actor and a director, I am a movie lover. And because of that I tend to react passionately to movies. But I am also a professional in the cinema industry. I did not consider my responsibility in that regard when I reacted on the Kannada movie 'Ulidavaru Kandante'. I realize that impulsive reaction was a mistake which hurt a lot of people. That was never my intention. I apologise for the pain I may have caused due to this. I am sorry.''