Arya has found himself at the centre of a legal controversy after a criminal case was registered against him at the Jubilee Hills Police Station in Hyderabad. The complaint, filed by a camera equipment rental company, alleges that the makers of Ananthan Kaadu, a which in which he played the lead, failed to clear outstanding dues amounting to Rs. 1.80 crore despite repeated assurances. The complainant has also accused Arya, producer Vinod, and a member of the production team of criminal intimidation over demands for payment. Police have initiated an investigation into the matter.
Arya In Legal Trouble: Camera Rental Firm Alleges Rs. 1.80 Crore in Unpaid Dues
According to the complaint, Arya, producer Vinod, and representatives of the Ananthan Kaadu production hired high-end digital cameras, lighting units, and other filmmaking equipment from a Hyderabad-based rental company. The firm alleged that it transported the equipment to Kerala at its own expense and provided technical support throughout the shoot.
While the total bill reportedly amounted to Rs. 2.12 crore, the company claimed that over Rs. 1.80 crore remains unpaid. The complainant further mentioned that the production team had been aware of the the pending amount and assured that the dues would be cleared before the film’s release. However, despite multiple reminders through letters, phone calls, and WhatsApp messages, the payment was allegedly never made.
Arya, who made his acting debut with the Tamil film Arinthum Ariyamalum in 2005, has also been part of several notable Malayalam films, including Urumi, Double Barrel, The Great Father, and Pathinettam Padi.
About Ananthan Kaadu
The dispute started after the rental company alleged that its manager was threatened when he asked for payment. Based on the allegations, the Jubilee Hills Police registered a criminal case against the trio on charges including cheating and criminal intimidation. An investigation is currently underway to verify the claims.
Ananthan Kaadu, directed by Jiyen Krishnakumar and written by Murali Gopy, is a bilingual political action thriller in Malayalam and Tamil. Ananthan Kaadu was mounted on a grand scale, featuring several large-scale sequences filmed across multiple schedules. The team shot the film across various locations, including Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Wayanad, Rameshwaram, and Rajasthan. With extensive VFX work involved, the production took nearly eight months to complete.
The film stars Arya alongside Regina Cassandra, Nikhila Vimal, Sunil, Indrans, and Dev Mohan. Produced by S Vinod Kumar under Mini Studio and presented by Sree Gokulam Movies, the film marked Arya’s return to Malayalam cinema after seven years and received mixed reviews following its release.