Telugu actor Vishnu Manchu has publicly accused his brother Manoj Manchu of being involved in the theft of a hard disk containing crucial VFX work for their upcoming film Kannappa. Speaking to the media in Chennai during the film’s promotional event, Vishnu claimed that two individuals named Raghu and Charitha—who allegedly stole the hard disk—are reportedly associated with Manoj.
Vishnu explained that the incident occurred about four weeks ago, but they only decided to file a police complaint after multiple failed attempts to contact Manoj and his associates through mutual friends. He emphasized that while he was willing to answer questions related to the theft, he preferred not to discuss broader family issues during the promotion, noting, “All families have issues.”
He detailed that the VFX work is spread across studios in Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Dubai, and London, and the hard disk in question was sent from Mumbai and arrived at their father Mohan Babu’s residence in Film Nagar. The package was typically collected by the siblings’ managers, and this time it was handed over to Raghu and Charitha—who have since gone missing. Vishnu suspects they might have acted on someone’s orders, but the exact motive remains unclear.
The hard disk is reportedly password-protected, making unauthorized access highly unlikely, though Vishnu cautioned the public not to watch any leaked footage if it surfaces, out of respect for the effort invested in the film.
Kannappa, directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh and produced by Mohan Babu, is a mythological fantasy drama based on the story of Kannappa, a devoted follower of Lord Shiva. Vishnu Manchu plays the lead role, supported by a cast including Sarathkumar, Kaushal Manda, Devaraj, Brahmanandam, Preity Mukundhan, and Madhoo. The film also features cameo appearances by Mohanlal, Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, and Kajal Aggarwal.
The film is set for a grand release on June 27.
