Dileep | |
|---|---|
 Dileep in 2016 | |
| Born | Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan |
| Education | BA,Mahatma Gandhi University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Works | Full list |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | |
Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan, better known by his stage nameDileep, is an Indian actor, producer, comedian and entrepreneur who predominantly works in theMalayalam film industry. He has also acted inTamil,Hindi, and Kannada films. He has won several awards, includingKerala State Film Awards and oneFilmfare Awards South.
Beginning as animpressionist in stage shows, Dileep obtained recognition after being cast in the television comedy seriesComicola onAsianet and its successorCinemala. He then produced and performed in the audio cassette seriesDe Maveli Kombathu withNadirshah, a successfulsketch comedy, which was later turned into a television series on Asianet.
He began his film career as anassistant director and worked under directorKamal in nine films, beginning withVishnulokam in 1991, and made his acting debut with a minor role in Kamal'sEnnodu Ishtam Koodamo (1992). He acted in a major role as a struggling young man who wants to meet his favourite actress in the 1994 filmManathe Kottaram taking the screen name Dileep. He established himself as a successful actor during the late 1990s, mostly playing comedic roles. In 2002 he played the titular role inMeesha Madhavan which became the highest grossing Malayalam film ever at that time and catapulted him into superstardom gaining the moniker “Janapriyanayakan”. In 2003, Dileep founded the film production company Graand Production, its debut film wasC.I.D. Moosa.
Outside of films, Dilieep also owns themultiplex theatre D Cinemaas. Dileep was married to actressManju Warrier from 1998 to 2015. He married actressKavya Madhavan in 2016.
Dileep was born as Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan[2] inEdavanakad,Ernakulam,Kerala, India to Padmanabhan Pillai and Sarojam on 27 October 1967.[3][4][5] He is the eldest of three children.[6]
Dileep studied atVidyadhiraja Vidya Bhavan Higher Secondary School inAluva, where he passed the tenth standard in 1985, and joined theUnion Christian College, Aluva for pre-degree third group, during 1985–1987. Later, he pursued a degree in history atMaharaja's College, Ernakulam.[7]
It was during his time in Maharaja's College that he began takingimpressionist acts seriously.[citation needed] Dileep along with his friendNadirshah produced and performed in theOnam-based audio cassette titledDe Maveli Kombathu, which helped his entry into the film industry.[8]
Dilieep started his career atKalabhavan, working as amimicry artist in the 1980s.[9] He also performed inAsianet's comedy showComicola. Later, while working as theassistant director toKamal, he acted in a few small roles, starting with a small scene inKamal'sEnnodu Ishtam Koodamo (1992). Kamal recommended his name to many directors. He started using the name of the role Dileep inManathe Kottaram (1994), as his screen name. Success of two 1996 films, Kamal'sEe Puzhayum Kadannu and Sundar Das'Sallapam, anchored his place in the Malayalam film industry.[10] He played a supporting role inI. V. Sasi'sVarnapakittu (1997).Punjabi House in 1998 marked the beginning of the successful Dileep-Harishree Ashokan combo.[11]
Ee Parakkum Thalika (2001) andKuberan (2002) were a major success at box office and are considered two of the best movies in his career.[12]
In 2002 he won theKerala State Film Special Jury Award for playing the role of Kunjan in the filmKunjikoonan. InLal Jose'sMeesa Madhavan (2002), Dileep played the role of the thiefMadhavan. This movie, which eventually developed acult following was a major breakthrough in his career as it increased Dileep's stardom to a new level in Malayalam cinema.[13] The same year he also debuted inTamil cinema withRaajjiyam.[14]C.I.D. Moosa (2003), a slapstick comedy byJohny Anthony is considered one of Dileep's career best movies by many fans.[15] In 2004, he produced and starred inT. V. Chandran'sKadhavaseshan. He won aSpecial Mention for his performance inChanthupottu (2005).[citation needed]
Dileep producedJoshiy-directedTwenty:20 (2008) to raise funds for theAssociation of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). The film became the highest-grossing Malayalam film (₹ 31.4 crore) until that time.[16]
He ventured into production withMalarvaadi Arts Club.Kaaryasthan (2010) was his 100th movie,[17] For his role inVellaripravinte Changathi (2011) he won aKerala State Film Award for Best Actor.[18] "Two Countries" released on Christmas Day 2015, directed by Shafi, became the highest-grossing film in his career.[19] His 2017 film,Ramaleela, became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.[20]
After a break, in the movieKeshu Ee Veedinte Nadhan (transl. Keshu is the lord of this house) Dileep comes to the screen in the title role along with Urvashi.The film was originally scheduled for a theatrical release but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in India.[21]
Dileep married actressManju Warrier on 20 October 1998; their daughter, Meenakshi, was born in 2000.[22][23] In July 2014, the couple filed for divorce which was granted on 31 January 2015.[24] On 25 November 2016, Dileep married actressKavya Madhavan.[25][26][23] The couple have a daughter born in 2018.[27]
Dileep owned themultiplex theater complex D Cinemaas situated inChalakudy when it opened in December 2014.[28]
He was popularly called 'Janapriya Nayakan' (transl. popular hero) by delivering consecutive hits which entertained the audience of all ages.[29]
2019 filmShibu starringKarthik directed byArjun andGokul is a film made on Dileep, and is based on an ardent fan of Dileep who wants to make a movie with him.[30]
On 28 June 2017, Dileep was interrogated by theKerala Police in connection with the abduction andsexual assault of actressBhavana on 17 February 2017.[31] On 10 July 2017, Dileep was arrested by the Kerala Police for alleged conspiracy, and was remanded by the court.[32] Following his arrest, Dileep's membership was revoked by various film organisations.[33] Several political parties protested against Dileep and his business firms were vandalized, including Dhe Puttu restaurant and themultiplex theatre D Cinemaas.[34] On 3 October 2017, he was released on conditional bail by theKerala High Court.[35] In June 2018, he filed a petition in the Kerala High Court accusing the Kerala Police of deliberately framing him. He requested the case be handed over to theCentral Bureau of Investigation.[36]
Dileep filed an additional plea for accessing video footage of the incident. The plea was denied by both the Angamaly Magistrate Court and theKerala High Court.Mukul Rohatgi represented him in the case. In October 2018, Dileep was granted bail by the Kerala High Court.[37] In April 2019, theGovernment of Kerala froze charges against him until the court had given an independent verdict on the case.[38] In May 2019, theSupreme Court stayed his trial until his plea for footage was considered.[39] On 30 November, the court turned down his plea, rather allowed to inspect its content, or have a second opinion as to whether the video is genuine.[40]
In December 2021, film director Balachandra Kumar gave an interview to a news channel where he alleged that he was witness to discussions among people including Dileep, regarding turning witnesses hostile, attacking police officers leading the investigation and being in illegal possession of the assault video. He also claimed he had audio recordings of these conversations.[41][42] Based on these claims, Kerala police registered a new case against Dileep for conspiracy to assault investigating officers.[43] On 7 February 2022, he and others were granted anticipatory bail byKerala High Court in the conspiracy case.[44]
The verdict of the case is scheduled to be delivered on 8 December 2025.[45]
Playback singing
| Song | Film | Year | Lyrics | Composer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Theme Music" | Chandranudikkunna Dikhil | 1999 | S. Ramesan Nair | Vidyasagar |
| "Onnaam Malakerii" | Kalyanaraman | 2002 | Kaithapram Damodaran | Berny-Ignatius |
| "Saare Saare" | Thilakkam | 2003 | Kaithapram Damodaran | Kaithapram Damodaran |
| "Manmadanalle" | "Inspector Garud" | 2007 | Alex Paul | |
| "Kandaal Njaanoru" | Sound Thoma | 2013 | Nadirshah | Gopi Sunder |
| "Ashakoshale Pennundo" | Sringaravelan | 2013 | Nadirshah | Berny-Ignatius |
| "Naranga Mittayi" | Keshu Ee Veedinte Nadhan | 2022 | Sajesh Hari | Nadirshah |
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At theKerala State Film Awards:
AtKerala Film Critics Association Awards:
| International | |
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| National | |
