Unni Mukundan Shares WhatsApp Chat with Tovino Thomas to Quell Rift Rumors Amid Assault Allegations
KOCHI, India – Malayalam cinema star Unni Mukundan has moved to dispel rumors of a feud with fellow actor Tovino Thomas by sharing a screenshot of their friendly WhatsApp chat on Instagram Stories on May 28, 2025. The move comes in response to allegations from Mukundan’s former PR manager, Vipin Kumar, who claimed Mukundan assaulted him for praising Thomas’ film Narivetta. Mukundan, known for his role in the 2024 blockbuster Marco, denied the assault claims, calling them a “propaganda attempt” to tarnish his reputation and his friendship with Thomas.
The controversy erupted when Kumar, 39, filed a police complaint with Kochi’s Infopark police on May 27, 2025, alleging that Mukundan slapped him, broke his sunglasses, and threatened to kill him in a parking lot in Kakkanad after Kumar posted a positive review of Narivetta on social media. The FIR, registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for causing hurt, wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, and mischief, also noted Kumar’s claim that Mukundan was “frustrated” over not securing “good films after Marco.” Kumar further alleged that a planned directorial project with Gokulam Movies fell through, adding to Mukundan’s discontent.
Mukundan, 37, swiftly countered these claims in a detailed Facebook post and Instagram Stories, sharing a screenshot of his chat with Thomas to prove their amicable bond. The chat showed Thomas sending a 10-second voice note, to which Mukundan responded with a GIF, followed by an exchange of playful stickers featuring Malayalam cinema legends Mohanlal and Mammootty. “Every word spoken by this individual is an absolute lie,” Mukundan wrote, denying any physical altercation and accusing Kumar of gossiping, spreading rumors, and meddling in his personal life, including an incident where Kumar allegedly contacted a female actress to propose marriage on Mukundan’s behalf. Mukundan clarified that Kumar was never his personal manager, only a PRO, and had faced complaints from filmmakers during Marco’s production.
The WhatsApp screenshot, widely covered by outlets like Hindustan Times and Times of India, has been seen as a strategic move to refute claims of jealousy over Thomas’ success with Narivetta, which earned Rs. 8.04 crores in five days. Thomas, busy promoting his film, has not publicly commented on the controversy, but the chat suggests no rift exists. Posts on X, such as those from @htshowbiz and @PinkvillaSouth, highlight the friendly exchange, with @ihsan21792 noting it “puts to rest any rumours of ego clashes.”
This saga ties to your earlier “frightened crowd” quote, with the public and media frenzy trapping Mukundan in a storm of scrutiny, much like Portofino’s tourist chaos or the mob threatening Ashok Saraf. The “steps” of social media platforms witness Mukundan’s defense, akin to the courtroom in Karen Read’s trial or the public backlash against the San Francisco school district’s grading plan. Mukundan has sought anticipatory bail in Ernakulam sessions court, and the case remains under investigation, with CCTV footage from the parking lot potentially key to resolving the dispute.
If you’d like more details on the allegations, the actors’ careers, or connections to your other prompts, let me know
