Kochi: The old row in the Malayalam movie industry over the expulsion of late actor Thilakan has flared up again as his son Shammi Thilakan revealed that some people had worked to deny him opportunities in cinema. The actor blamed popular actor and legislator Mukesh for acting against him.
Shammi claimed he has also been denied work like his father was denied. “I had accepted an advance payment to do a role in director Vinayan's film. It was Mukesh who made me return it the very same day. I withdrew as Mukesh threatened me saying that my future would be dark.” Shammi also said one or two production executives treated him very badly after that at some shoot locations.
Vinayan was one director who defied the ban on the senior Thilakan by the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) when active members of the body had stayed away from his films.
“I wanted to speak out last week,” Shammi said. “Mohanlal and others intervened and calmed me. AMMA offered me Rs 5,000 as pension. May be they thought I have reached retirement age. I returned it in the last executive committee meeting,” he claimed.
Shammi's latest revelations come amid the friction among a few artistes over AMMA's recent decision to take back actor Dileep after he was expelled earlier over allegations linked to the 2017 actress attack case. AMMA is firm on the stand that Dileep, accused of the kidnap and rape of a young actress, cannot be expelled without the consent of the general body, but actresses belonging to the Women's Collective in Cinema cite the expulsion of Thilakan by the executive committee.
On Monday, AMMA office-bearers had stated that Dileep has decided to leave the artists' organisation.
