Malayalam actor Nivin Pauly and filmmaker Abrid Shine have landed in legal trouble. Reportedly, a serious complaint alleging financial fraud was registered against them.According to PTI, the case, filed by P S Shamnas, a native of Thalayolaparambu and co-producer of the 2022 film ‘Mahaveeryar’, has prompted police action under IPC Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating).
Shamnas claims broken promises after ‘Mahaveeryar’ loss
According to the FIR filed on Wednesday night, Shamnas claimed that Mahaveeryar’s commercial failure led to Nivin Pauly offering him a repayment of Rs 95 lakh. In addition to this, Pauly allegedly promised to involve Shamnas as a partner in the duo’s next film, Action Hero Biju 2, to help recoup the loss.Based on this assurance, Shamnas stated he invested around Rs 1.9 crore in the production of ‘Action Hero Biju 2’. The project was also registered under Shamnas’s own production banner, Indian Movie Makers, which appeared to cement the collaboration.
Alleged deal with Dubai firm sparks fraud claim
However, trouble arose when Nivin Pauly and Abrid Shine reportedly entered into a Rs 5 crore distribution deal with a Dubai-based company — based on an earlier contract that allegedly listed the movie under Pauly’s own production house. Shamnas now claims this was done without informing him, despite the film being officially registered under his company.He alleges this move effectively cut him out of the project’s profits and misrepresented the ownership, resulting in a financial loss of Rs 1.9 crore.
No response yet from Nivin or Abrid Shine
As the complaint makes waves in the Malayalam film industry, neither Nivin Pauly nor Abrid Shine has issued a public statement or response to the allegations. The police investigation is underway. On the work front, Nivin Pauly’s previous hit was ‘Varshangalkku Shesham’ which directed Vineeth Sreenivasan.
