The Kerala High Court has ordered a stay on proceedings in a case filed by a producer of Action Hero Biju 2, alleging that Nivin Pauly and filmmaker Abrid Shine swindled him out of money during the film’s production. According to Manorama Online, Justice V. G. Arun's order was issued on a petition filed by Pauly seeking to quash this case.
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The case emerged based on a complaint by P.S. Shamnas, who co-produced the 2022 fantasy flick Mahaveeryar with the duo, claiming he was promised Rs 95 lakh, but after the film failed at the box office, he was not paid. Shamnas was also allegedly promised as co-producer in the sequel to Action Hero Biju, directed by Shine and starring Pauly, prompting him to invest Rs 1.90 crore in April 2024 for its production.
The producer states that the film’s title was transferred to his company, Indian Movie Markers, via the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce. He then accuses Pauly of misleading a UAE-based company, Home Screen Motion Pictures LLC, into believing that the rights belonged to Pauly’s company, Pauly Jr. Pictures, purchasing the overseas rights for Rs 5 crore based on an outdated agreement.
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Pauly retaliated by filing a formal complaint with the Palarivattom Police Station against Shamnas for allegedly forging the actor’s signature in the submitted documents. Pauly alleges that the producer concealed the agreement and acquired the rights of the film’s title from the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce by submitting a falsified version of the agreement carrying Pauly’s forged signature. A source informed that the film chamber will be taking action against Shamnas and will likely impose a ban on his production company, Indian Movie Makers.
