“He never let go”: Shine Tom Chacko on Mammootty’s support after father’s death in car crash

Actor Shine Tom Chacko has spoken publicly for the first time about the harrowing road accident that claimed his father’s life. The actor revealed that superstar Mammootty gave him much support during the hardship.“Dad gave me a biscuit"The accident occurred on June 6 on the Hosur National Highway near Palakkad. Shine, who was recovering from addiction and on medication to help him sleep, was in the backseat of the car along with his father, mother, and brother.Talking to The Cue the actor said, “Dad gave me a biscuit, maybe two or three times,” he recalled. “I was resting… the next time I opened my eyes, the car had already crashed.”His father didn’t survive. Shine’s left hand was severely injured, requiring 30 stitches, and he suffered a small spinal fracture. Though his mother and brother were injured, they survived, as did the driver. But the emotional scars, Shine says, run far deeper.“She kept asking, ‘Where is Daddy?'"“The finality didn’t strike me at first,” Shine said. “Until I lost my father, the death of someone else’s parent was just another piece of news. That day, I was on the road, crying and pleading for help.”More than his own pain, Shine spoke about his mother’s anguish. “She kept asking, ‘Where is Daddy?’ even though he was right next to us. I kept lying, saying, ‘He’s here with us,’ just so she could hold on to a little peace.”Mammootty's support - "He advised me to not let grief consume me"Amid the sorrow, what brought Shine unexpected solace was Mammootty’s support. “He didn’t speak too much, but he knew exactly what to say,” Shine recalled. “He advised me to not let grief consume me, to remain grounded, and keep moving forward."Shine also remembered another instance — after being cleared in a drug case — when Mammootty simply messaged him: “God bless you.” Meanwhile, Mammootty and Shine Tom Chacko has worked together in films such as ‘Unda’, ‘Bheeshmaparvam’ and ‘Christopher’.