Manikuttan, a beloved figure in Malayalam television, first rose to prominence through the hit serial Kayamkulam Kochunni. However, one of his most fondly remembered roles remains that of 'Sainu' in the 2007 Mohanlal-starrer Chotta Mumbai.

After winning the hearts of television audiences through Kayamkulam Kochunni, Manikuttan went on to play the lead role in Vinayan's Boy Friend, before landing the much-revered character of Sainu in Chotta Mumbai.

Directed by Anwar Rasheed, Chotta Mumbai featured an ensemble cast including Mohanlal, Siddique, Bhavana, and Indrajith. The superhit film was recently re-released to much fanfare.

In a recent interview with The Cue Studio, Manikuttan reflected on his bond with Bhavana, who played the role of Latha in Chotta Mumbai. Sharing anecdotes from their early friendship, the actor recounted a memorable incident during a stage show organised by AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists).

“Bhavana is one of my dearest friends. I still remember the experiences we shared during the AMMA show. At the time, I was what you might call a struggling actor, while Bhavana was already a superstar, actively working in other South Indian industries as well,” said Manikuttan.

He recalled a particular situation during rehearsals when another artist, who was originally meant to perform a dance alongside Bhavana, had to drop out unexpectedly. “It became essential for the performance to go on as planned, without altering the original schedule. Eventually, I was asked to step in and dance with her,” he explained.

“I was incredibly nervous. All I could think was, ‘What if Bhavana says no?’ After all, she was a big star at the time, and I was still trying to find my footing in the industry. But she graciously agreed without any hesitation. That was a wonderful gesture,” he said warmly.

Manikuttan noted that although he and Bhavana shared screen space in Chotta Mumbai, they had little time to interact on set. “She was extremely busy back then, working in multiple languages including Tamil and Telugu. It was only later, during the CCL (Celebrity Cricket League) matches, that we had more opportunities to interact and grow closer,” he added with a laugh.

“She didn’t know much about cricket but was wonderful company,” he chuckled.

Manikuttan’s candid recollections shed light on the genuine warmth and camaraderie that still defines his friendship with Bhavana — a bond that blossomed not under studio lights, but behind the scenes, in moments of unexpected togetherness.