Lal Jose Says Mammootty Was Not Happy About Casting Divya Unni in the Film

Oru Maravathoor Kanavu, the debut directorial venture of Lal Jose, was a Malayalam film released in 1998. Written by actor Sreenivasan, the movie featured Mammootty and Divya Unni in lead roles, along with Biju Menon, Mohini, and several other prominent actors.

Recently, Lal Jose revealed that Mammootty initially had reservations about casting Divya Unni as the female lead. According to him, Mammootty’s hesitation stemmed from the fact that Divya was studying in college alongside his daughter. He was concerned that audiences might not accept such a young actress playing his on-screen love interest. Instead, Mammootty suggested actresses from Tamil cinema, including Roja.

However, by the time these concerns arose, Divya had already been paid an advance for the role, making it impossible to replace her. Lal Jose also clarified that the film’s storyline did not involve intense romantic scenes between Mammootty’s character, Chandy, and Divya’s character, Annie. The relationship was more about unspoken feelings, which helped mitigate concerns about the age difference. Lal Jose added that Divya portrayed the role beautifully, and post-release, there were no significant discussions regarding the age gap between the leads.

Old Allegations Resurface on Social Media

Another controversy involving Divya Unni and late actor Kalabhavan Mani has recently resurfaced on social media. For years, rumors have circulated that Divya refused to act alongside Mani during the shooting of the film Kalyana Sougandhikam. Allegedly, a romantic song featuring the two was removed because of her objection.

In a recent interview, Divya addressed these allegations, stating that she does not let such comments affect her. “I know the truth, and that’s enough for me. I don’t believe in responding to baseless accusations,” she said. She also emphasized her respect for Kalabhavan Mani, saying, “From our first film together, we worked on many projects. I speak with respect for his soul, knowing the reality of the situation. Those who comment otherwise don’t deserve a response.”

Divya Unni’s Dignified Stance

Despite the recurring controversies, Divya has consistently maintained her composure. Her statements and social media updates often go viral, demonstrating the public’s ongoing interest in her career and personal life.