Actor Nivin Pauly, director Abrid Shine booked for allegedly dishonest producer in movie funding dispute

A case of dishonest has been registered towards actor Nivin Pauly and filmmaker Abrid Shine following a grievance lodged by a resident of Thalayolaparambu in Kottayam, Kerala.

The first data report (FIR), filed on Wednesday (July 16, 2025) evening, cites Sections 406 (prison breach of belief) and 420 (dishonest) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), based mostly on a grievance by P.S. Shamnas, co-producer of the 2022 movie Mahaveeryar.

According to the grievance, after the business failure of Mahaveeryar, the actor allegedly assured Mr. Shamnas a compensation of ₹95 lakh and a partnership in his upcoming movie Action Hero Biju 2, to be directed by Abrid Shine. Relying on this promise, Mr. Shamnas invested round ₹1.9 crore within the new mission.

Though the movie was initially registered beneath the banner of Indian Movie Makers, owned by Mr. Shamnas, the actor and the director allegedly entered right into a ₹5-crore distribution take care of a Dubai-based agency, citing a previous settlement that listed the actor’s personal manufacturing firm because the producer. It is additional alleged that the actor additionally obtained ₹2 crore as advance from the Dubai-based firm.

The complainant has accused the duo of intentionally concealing the movie’s precise registration particulars to defraud him of his funding.

Nivin Pauly’s response

Reacting to the event, Nivin Pauly confirmed the registration of the police case however claimed that it was filed by concealing information.

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“The dispute has been beneath court-directed arbitration since May 28, 2025, with a gag order in place to make sure confidentiality. Despite this, a brand new police case has been registered in violation of the court docket’s directives, suppressing the continuing arbitration proceedings and distorting information,” the actor acknowledged in a social media publish.

“We will take applicable authorized motion. The reality will prevail,” he added.