Actor Joju George, whose latest film ‘Varavu’, directed by Shaji Kailas, hit theatres last week, has alleged that he is the target of a coordinated defamation campaign on social media. During an Instagram Live session, which was later deleted, the actor claimed that a prominent actor and the actor’s wife were behind a planned PR campaign aimed at damaging his reputation. Joju said the allegations were affecting both his personal life and professional career, claiming that false narratives were being spread to discourage producers from working with him in the future.
When contacted for further clarification, Joju declined to comment beyond what he had said during the live session.
Gold 101.3 FM, UAE’s No.1 Radio Station, brings you this latest update from the Malayalam film industry as the controversy surrounding Varavu continues to draw attention.
Joju also strongly denied allegations made by filmmaker Santhivila Dinesh, who had claimed that the actor damaged between 12 and 16 mobile phones on the sets of Varavu during an outburst. Refuting the claim, Joju questioned its credibility, saying it was illogical and asking why the producers would continue to work with him if such incidents had actually occurred.
Santhivila Dinesh had earlier alleged that Joju frequently lost his temper on film sets and had forgotten the struggles that shaped his career. However, sources associated with Varavu firmly rejected the allegations, stating that no such phone-breaking incident took place during the shoot. According to members of the film’s team, while Joju is an emotional person, an isolated remark had been exaggerated and transformed into a misleading narrative.
The makers of Varavu have also voiced concern over what they describe as a sustained negative campaign against the film. They claimed the movie was subjected to adverse publicity soon after its release and was not given sufficient time to connect with audiences in theatres.
Directed by Shaji Kailas and written by A K Sajan, Varavu tells the story of an elderly man who embarks on a relentless search for justice following the mysterious disappearance of his younger brother, portrayed by Arjun Ashokan. The film released in theatres last week and continues its theatrical run amid the ongoing controversy.
