Vinayan says Divya Unni wasn’t the actress who refused to share screen space with Kalabhavan Mani: ‘We never even asked her…’

Director Vinayan also addressed Divya Unni’s reported hesitation to appear in a song sequence with Kalabhavan Mani in Kalyana Sougandhikam (1996).

By: Entertainment Desk

Bangalore | Updated: October 3, 2025 03:28 PM IST

2 min read

Vinayan on Diva Unni-Kalabhavan Mani issue

Vinayan has now put an end to a long-standing speculation surrounding Divya Unni.

Actress Divya Unni has long faced allegations of refusing to perform a song sequence alongside the late Kalabhavan Mani during the filming of Kalyana Sougandhikam (1996), as well as declining a key role in director Vinayan’s Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum (1999), which also featured Mani in the lead. Over the years, these claims have fueled trolling and waves of online abuse directed at the actress.

Vinayan has now put an end to the long-standing speculation surrounding Divya Unni. Responding to a fan on social media, he dismissed the rumors that the actress had turned down a role in Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum (1999). “It wasn’t that film. A well-known actress made that remark, but it was never Divya. I have never revealed her name.”

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Vinayan further addressed Divya Unni’s reported hesitation to appear in a song sequence with Kalabhavan Mani in Kalyana Sougandhikam (1996). “Divya was just 14 at the time, making her debut as Dileep’s heroine. It was more of a dream and excitement to act with him. Once I explained the scene with patience, she agreed and performed it. Mani himself had narrated it humorously,” the director said.

He further clarified that a behind-the-scenes story he once shared in an interview had been wrongly attributed to Divya Unni. “The actress who expressed difficulty in acting in Vasanthiyum was never Divya Unni. We never even asked her. I had referred to the incident of a different actress during Chalakkudikkaran Changathi. The truth needed to be clarified because repeated false claims kept targeting Divya.”

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Kalabhavan Mani passed away in 2016. Divya Unni, meanwhile, has been away from films for several years, leading a family life in the United States.

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