Popular Bollywood star Akshay Kumar has tweeted his condolence over the demise of well-known Keralite and non-resident Indian businessman Mathunny ‘Sunny’ Mathews, 81.
Mathews was a star in his own right during the evacuation efforts that were required following the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait in 1990.
Mathews, better known as ‘Toyota’ Sunny for his long association with the Toyota dealership in Kuwait, was in the forefront of helping with the efforts in evacuating Indians from Kuwait. The mass evacuation inspired the Bollywood movie, Airlift, in which Akshay Kumar played the lead role.
“Extremely sad news, was an honour to portray him onscreen. Thoughts and prayers with his family”, tweeted Akshay Kumar.
Mathews stayed put in Kuwait even after the Iraqi occupation, a move that endured him to tens of thousands of Indians who were then stranded in the nation and awaiting evacuation, as well as to local Kuwaitis and the nation’s leadership.
It was in 2016 that Raja Krishna Menon produced the movie Airlift based on the evacuation effort that has few parallels in history.
Mathews, who hails from Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district, reached Kuwait in 1956 in search of a job. He joined a local automobile dealership the following year, and played a key role in the sharp rise in sales of Toyota cars, which earned him the pet name ‘Toyota’ Sunny.
After quitting the job in 1989, he ventured into multiple businesses including car rentals and general trading. He was also the chairman of a local Indian school.
