Troubling rumours started circulating about Malayalam superstar Mammootty's health on social media on Sunday evening. Some portals published unverified reports about the actor being diagnosed with cancer, following which concerned fans wondered if there was some truth to it.
Mammootty's PR team has now responded to the reports. Rubbishing them as fake, the team told Mid-day that the actor has been taking a break due to his fasting for Ramzan.
“It is fake news. He is on vacation because he is fasting for Ramzan. He is on a break from his shoot schedule as well because of that. In fact, after the break he will go back to shooting for Mahesh Narayanan's film with Mohanlal,” the team told the news outlet.
The Mahesh Narayanan film, tentatively titled AJFC_MMMN, has Mammootty and Mohanlal in prominent roles alongside Fahadh Faasil, Kunchacko Boban, Nayanthara and others.
It is bankrolled jointly by MammoottyKampany and Anto Joseph Film Company, the film , will have both Mammootty and Mohanlal in prominent roles and not cameos.
Filming began in Sri Lanka in November last year, followed by schedules in Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates. Other locations reportedly include London, Thailand, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Kochi.
The film billed as a thriller is editor-turned-director Mahesh Narayanan's biggest venture yet. He is known for the films Take Off, CU Soon, Malik, and Ariyippu. He also debuted as a cinematographer with the Fahadh-starrer Malayankunju, for which he wrote the script.
It's not yet known when the filming will be complete given the multiple schedules spread across different parts of the globe.
Mammootty, who was last seen in Gautham Vasudev Menon's Dominic and the Ladies' Purse, has another new release coming up, Bazooka, on April 10.
Mammootty is also playing a lead role, of a negative shade, in Kalamkaval, opposite Vinayakan, who plays the other main lead. Debutant Jithin K Jose is helming it.