In a fresh set of allegations against actor Shine Tom Chacko, another female co-star, Aparna John, has accused him of inappropriate behavior during the filming of their upcoming Malayalam movie, Soothravakyam. John, who is currently in Australia, spoke to a TV channel on Thursday, confirming the accusations made earlier by actress Vincy Aloshious.
John supported Aloshious’ claims that Chacko exhibited disturbing behavior on set, including acting in an “abnormal and erratic manner.” She described Chacko as being unusually energetic, restlessly moving around, and making comments with sexual connotations that made her uncomfortable. “He displayed a high energy which we could not match. He moved around constantly, was restless, said things which had no logical connections, and if any woman was around, his remarks were indecent,” John said.
She further echoed Aloshious’ account of Chacko’s behavior, which involved the actor spitting out a white powder, though John clarified that she could not confirm its contents, stating, “It could have been glucose.” John explained that the remarks made by Chacko were inappropriate, often bordering on verbal abuse, describing it as “verbal diarrhoea.”
John emphasized how unsettling the experience was for her, especially as a newcomer to the industry. “I immediately told a member of the Internal Complaints Committee on the set about the discomfort I felt. I received a resolution quickly, and the crew made efforts to complete my scenes ahead of schedule so that I could leave,” she said.
John also expressed her concerns about the industry’s environment, stressing that if she were pursuing acting as a full-time career, like Aloshious, she would actively work to ensure a safe space for women in the field.
This is the second accusation against Chacko, following the earlier allegations by Aloshious, who had accused him of misbehaving while allegedly under the influence of drugs on set. Aloshious lodged a formal complaint with the Film Chamber, claiming that Chacko had made inappropriate comments and had used narcotics during the shoot of Soothravakyam. She also informed the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists about the incident.
Chacko had reportedly apologized to Aloshious after the complaints. He was arrested in connection with a drugs case shortly after Aloshious’ accusations came to light. He was later released on bail. The actor was booked under sections 238 of the Indian Penal Code and sections 27 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, following an anti-narcotics raid at a hotel where he was staying.
While the police have yet to file formal charges, the Kerala government has said it views the allegations against Chacko seriously and is taking appropriate action through the police and Excise departments.
In a separate legal matter, Chacko was recently acquitted in a 2015 drug case by the Ernakulam Additional Sessions Court, which cited procedural lapses in the police’s handling of evidence during the arrest and seizure process.
As the allegations continue to mount, the spotlight is on both the actor’s conduct and the broader issues surrounding drug abuse and misconduct on film sets in the Malayalam film industry.
Sources By Agencies
