Padmanabhan Gopalakrishnan (born 27 October 1968), better known by his stage name Dileep, is an Indian film actor and producer. He started his film career as an assistant director to Kamal. He rose into prominence as a lead actor during the early 2000s. Dileep, who began his career as a mimicry artist, excels in films particularly of the comedy genre. He went on to produce the highest grossing film in Malayalam cinema, Joshi's Twenty:20 (2008).
Dileep (Gopalakrishna Pillai) was born Padmanabhan Gopalakrishnan on 27 October 1968 in Edavanakkad, Aluva, Ernakulam district, Kerala to Padmanabha Pillai and Sarojam.[1] He studied in S.N.V Sadanam School & Vidyadhiraja Vidya Bhavan High School, then joined Aluva U.C. College, and then transferred to Maharajas College, Ernakulam. His talent for acting was not known in school and college where he rarely won any accolades or merits. During 1985�1987 he tried to perform as a mimicry artist in UC College but was not successful. On joining Maharajas College for a B.A. in Economics in 1989, Gopalakrisnan started to take mimicry seriously. Mimicry was only getting its roots in Kerala at the time. He later went on for a M.A. in History.
Dileep started his career in a troupe called Kalabavan, working as a mimicry artist. Later he got a chance to be the assistant director to Kamal. While being an assistant director, Dileep did some small roles, debuting with just a small scene in Kamal's Ennodu Ishtam Koodaamo (1992). He was then brought up by actor Jayaram. He recommended his name to many directors. The film Manathe Kottaram (1994) gave him the first break and his screen name Dileep came into place through the character of the same name that he played. Other minor roles during this time includes Joshi's Sainyam (1993) and Sibi Malayil's Sindoora Rekha (1995).
By the mid-90s he started getting more prominent roles. He played a supporting role in Sathyan Anthikkad's Thooval Kottaram (1996) starring Jayaram and Manju Warrier in the lead. He also did another supporting role in the Jayaram starred film Swapna Lokathe Balabhaskaran (1996). The film Sallapam (1996) was a turning point in his career, with the commercial success of the film he started becoming noted as an actor. He plays the lead role in Kamal's Ee Puzhayum Kadannu (1996). In both Sallapam and Ee Puzhayum Kadannu he had co-star Manju Warrier whom he later married. He did a supporting role in I.V. Sasi's Varnapakittu (1997). It was playing Unnikrishnan in Raffi-Meccartin's Punjabi House (1998) that made him popular as a comic actor. Another interesting role of that time was Ommanakuttan in Meenathil Thalikettu (1998). His first Priyadarshan film was Megham (1999) starring Mammootty. A noted film by the end of the decade is Lal Jose's Chandranudikkunna Dikhil (1999) where he co-starred with Kavya Madhavan.
His real life began as a transvestite man from the family of fishermen.Critics and audiences alike have responded badly to his performance with Shaji Kailas's Don.[3] He played the athlete Arjun in The Speed Track the debut of director Jayasurya. His second film with the acclaimed director Sathyan Anthikkad, Vinodayathra, was released in April 2007. It is one of the appreciated Malayalam movies of the year 2007. He also had the chance to play in Blessy's Calcutta News (2008), though this film wasn't as well received compared to Blessy's previous films.
Dileep produced Joshi's Twenty:20 (2008), which is considered to be the highest-grossing film in Malayalam cinema. In the year 2009, he had a good start. His film, Crazy Gopalan performed very well at the box-office compared to his other movie Colours which only did an average performance. Although the much awaited Moss N Cat directed by veteran director Fazil didn't perform that well at the box-office, his other film Passenger directed by debutant Ranjith Shankar, where he starred along with Mamta Mohandas and Sreenivasan, was a runaway success.His next film Swantham Lekhakan didan above average performance. His upcoming films are Siddique's Body Guard & KamalAagathan.
Dileep is married to actress Manju Warrier. Their marriage created a controversy on whether married heroines have to leave the field or not as Manju Warrier was the leading female actor in the Malayalam cinema during the late 90s. She chose not to act after marriage. They got married on 20 October 1998 at the Aluva Srikrishna Temple. The couple have one daughter - Meenakshi.
Dileep also owns a restaurant named "Twenty:20 Food Mall" in Padma Cinemas at Kochi (MG Road) He lives at Deshom in Aluva.
Awards
Kerala State Film Special Jury Award 2002 for Kunjikkoonan
Kerala State Film Special Jury Award 2005 for Chanthupottu
Filmfare Award Popular Actor of the Year 2002 Meesa Madhavan
Asianet Film Awards Best Film 2009 for Twenty:20
Atlas Best Supporting Actor Award 2000 Joker
Mathrubhumi Popular Actor Award 2001 Joker
Critics Award Best Actor 2002 Kunjikoonan
Lux-Asianet Film Award Best Actor 2002 Kunjikoonan
Mathrubhumi Medimix Best Actor Award 2002 Kunjikoonan
Kerala Film Critics Association Best Actor 2004 Kathavaseshan
Jessy Award
Sathyan Smaraka Award
Assistant Director
Manthramothiram (1997) (assistant director)
Mazhayethum Munpe (1995) (assistant director)
Champakulam Thachan (1992) (assistant director)
Ennodishtam Koodamo (1992) (assistant director)
EE puzhayum kadannu(assistant director)
Producer
Malarvadi Arts & Sports Club(2009)(producer)
Twenty:20 (2008)(producer)
Pandippada (2005) (producer)
Kadhavaseshan (2004) (producer)
C.I.D. Moosa (2003) (producer)
Writer
Pachakuthira (2006) (story)
Soundtrack
Kalayanaraman (2002) (performer: "Onnam mala keri) Thilakkam (2003) (performer: "Saare Saare Sambare")
Movie |
Year |
Producer |
Director |
Ennodishtam Koodaamo |
1992 |
T Sasi |
Kamal |
Pidakkozhi Koovunna Noottandu |
1994 |
Urvasi |
Viji Thampy |
Sainyam |
1994 |
Thiruppathi Chettiyar,Ambu |
Joshi |
Sudinam |
1994 |
Raju Mambara |
Nissar |
Maanathe Kottaaram |
1994 |
Hameed |
Sunil |
Ezharakoottam |
1995 |
C Aravindaksha Menon |
Kareem |
Kokkarakko |
1995 |
P Balakrishnan |
KK Haridas |
Sindoorarekha |
1995 |
GK Movie Land |
Sibi Malayil |
Aalancheri Thambraakkal |
1995 |
Fax Productions |
Sunil |
Kaakkaykkum Poochaykkum Kalyaanam |
1995 |
Satheesh Kuttiyil,Fazal Vilakkudi,Premkumar Parambath |
KK Haridas |
Three Men Army |
1995 |
Alwin Antony |
Nissar |
Thirumanassu (Thiruvathamkoor Thirumanassu) |
1995 |
Ms. Veronica Panthalippadan,Mr. Thomas |
Ashwathy Gopinath |
Vridhanmaare Sookshikkuka |
1995 |
M Mani |
Sunil |
Ee Puzhayum Kadannu |
1996 |
Kannan Perumudiyoor,T Haridas |
Kamal |
Malayala Maasam Chingam Onninu |
1996 |
Khader Nazeer,Pavankumar |
Nissar |
Thoovalkkottaaram |
1996 |
PV Gangadharan |
Sathyan Anthikkad |
Kudumbakodathi |
1996 |
VS Suresh |
Viji Thampy |
Swapnalokathe Baalabhaaskaran |
1996 |
Sivanandan |
Rajasenan |
Padanaayakan |
1996 |
Shinestar Films |
Nissar |
Saamoohya Paadam |
1996 |
TK Surendran,Pradeep Chembakassery |
Kareem |
Maanthrikakkuthira |
1996 |
Brahmaputhra Films |
Viji Thampy |
Sallaapam |
1996 |
N Krishnakumar (Kireedam Unni) |
Sundar Das |
Kalyaana Saugandhikam |
1996 |
Kasim Vengola |
Vinayan |
Kalyanappittennu |
1997 |
Milan Jaleel |
KK Haridas |
Manthra Mothiram |
1997 |
Lallu Films |
Sasi Sankar |
Ullaasapoonkaattu |
1997 |
Jolly Xavier |
Vinayan |
Varnapakittu |
1997 |
Jokuttan |
IV Sasi |
Kaliyoonjal |
1997 |
Siyad Kokker |
Anil Kumar,Babu Narayanan |
Kudamaattam |
1997 |
P Ramu |
Sundar Das |
Maanasam |
1997 |
Raphel T Joseph |
CS Sudheesh |
Nee Varuvolam |
1997 |
Prem Prakash,Raju Mathew |
Sibi Malayil |
Maayapponmaan |
1997 |
VV Antony,PA Velayudhan,PC Aleyas |
Thulasidas |
Anuraagakottaaram |
1998 |
KG Rameshkumar |
Vinayan |
Manthrimaalikayil Manassammatham |
1998 |
MV Naushad |
Ansar Kalabhavan |
Punjabi House |
1998 |
Appachan (VC George),Sreenivasa Shenoy,AP Antony |
Rafi,Mecartin |
Vismayam |
1998 |
CC Cine Vision |
Raghunath Palery |
Meenathil Thaalikettu |
1998 |
Prem Prakash |
Rajan Sankaradi |
Ormacheppu |
1998 |
Auseppachan |
AK Lohithadas |
Kallukondoru Pennu |
1998 |
G Jayakumar |
Shyama Prasad |
Sundarakilladi |
1998 |
Fazil |
Murali Krishnan |
Chandranudikkunna Dikkil |
1999 |
Milan Jaleel |
Lal Jose |
Pranayanilaavu |
1999 |
Milan Jaleel |
Vinayan |
Megham |
1999 |
Suresh Balaji |
Priyadarshan |
Udayapuram Sulthan |
1999 |
Krishna Kumar,Hari |
Jose Thomas |
Deepasthambham Mahaashcharyam |
1999 |
Salim Sathar |
KB Madhu |
Joker |
2000 |
Salim Sathar |
AK Lohithadas |
Varnakkaazhchakal |
2000 |
Suryakanthi Productions |
Sundar Das |
Darling Darling |
2000 |
Gopala Krishnan Pai,Gopakumar,Amritha Mohan |
Rajasenan |
Thenkaashippattanam |
2000 |
Lal |
Rafi,Mecartin |
Mr Butler |
2000 |
K Pradeep Kumar |
Sasi Sankar |
Ishtam |
2001 |
David Kachappally |
Sibi Malayil |
Dosth |
2001 |
Yamuna |
Thulasidas |
Soothradhaaran |
2001 |
KA Jaleel |
AK Lohithadas |
Ee Parakkumthalika |
2001 |
MM Hamsa |
Thaha |
Raakshasa Raajaavu |
2001 |
Sargam Kabeer |
Vinayan |
Mazhathullikkilukkam |
2002 |
KP Kottarakkara,Sharada KP Kottarakkara |
Akbar Jose |
Kalyaanaraaman |
2002 |
Lal |
Shafi |
Kunjikkoonan |
2002 |
Jaleel |
Sasi Sankar |
Kuberan |
2002 |
Menaka |
Sundar Das |
Meesa Maadhavan |
2002 |
Sudhish,Maha Subair |
Lal Jose |
War And Love |
2003 |
Sasi Ayyanchira |
Vinayan |
Pattanathil Sundaran |
2003 |
Liberty Basheer,S Vijayan |
Vipin Mohan |
CID Moosa |
2003 |
Dileep,Anoop |
Johny Antony |
Mizhirandilum |
2003 |
Augustine |
Ranjith |
Gramaphone |
2003 |
Kabeer Palakkad |
Kamal |
Sadaanandante Samayam |
2003 |
Jayasankar,Noushad,Sabudeen |
Akbar Jose |
Thilakkam |
2003 |
Anish Varma |
Jayaraj |
Chakram |
2003 U |
Johny Sagarika |
Kamal |
Perumazhakkaalam |
2004 |
Salim Padiyath |
Kamal |
Vettam |
2004 |
Menaka |
Priyadarshan |
Kadhaavaseshan |
2004 |
Dileep,Anoop |
TV Chandran |
Rasikan |
2004 |
Sudeesh |
Lal Jose |
Runway |
2004 |
Noushad |
Joshi |
Thekkekkara Super Fast (Kili) |
2004 |
PP Sathish Kumar |
Thaha |
Chaanthu Pottu |
2005 |
Lal |
Lal Jose |
Kochiraajaavu |
2005 |
R Mohan |
Johny Antony |
Paandippada |
2005 |
Dileep |
Rafi,Mecartin |
Lion |
2006 |
Noushad |
Joshi |
Speed (Fast Track) |
2006 |
Maha Subair |
SL Jayasurya |
Pachakkuthira |
2006 |
Babu Shahir |
Kamal |
Chess |
2006 |
Mahe |
Raj Babu |
The Don |
2006 |
S Chandra Kumar |
Shaji Kailas |
Chakkaramuthu |
2006 |
GP Vijayakumar |
AK Lohithadas |
Inspector Garud |
2007 |
Milan Jaleel |
Johny Antony |
Vinodayaathra |
2007 |
MM Hamsa |
Sathyan Anthikkad |
July 4 |
2007 |
Alwin Antony,Suku Nair |
Joshi |
Romeo |
2007 |
Rafi |
Rajasenan |
Calcutta News |
2008 |
Thampi Antony |
Blessy |
Mulla |
2008 |
Sagar Shareef,Sundar Rajan |
Lal Jose |
Twenty 20 |
2008 |
Anoop |
Joshi |
Crazy Gopalan |
2008 |
Sasi Ullattil |
Deepu Karunakaran |
Colors |
2009 |
M Mani |
Raj Babu |
Moz & Cat |
2009 |
Johny Sagarika |
Fazil |
Passenger |
2009 |
SC Pillai |
Ranjith Shankar |
Swantham Lekhakan |
2009 |
P Sukumar,Madhu Warrier |
P Sukumar |
Kerala Cafe |
2009 |
Ranjith |
Ranjith,Shaji Kailas,Lal Jose,Shyama Prasad,Anwar Rasheed,B Unnikrishnan,Padmakumar,Revathy,Anjali Menon,Uday Anandan,Shankar Ramakrishnan |
Bodyguard |
2010 |
Johny Sagarika |
Siddique |
Aagathan |
2010 |
Mathew Joseph |
Kamal |
Paappee Appachaa |
2010 |
Anoop |
Mamas |
Kaaryasthan |
2010 |
Neeta Anto |
Thomson |
Marykkundoru Kunjaadu |
2010 |
Vaishakh Rajan |
Shafi |
Oru Avadhikkaalam |
2010 D |
Santhosh Damodar |
Major Ravi |
Christian Brothers |
2011 |
AV Anoop,Maha Subair |
Joshi |
China Town |
2011 |
Antony Perumbavoor |
Rafi,Mecartin |
Orma Maathram |
2011 |
Rajan Thalipparambu |
Madhu Kaithapram |
Film Star |
2011 |
Joseph Thomas,Sanjeev Raj |
Sanjeev Raj |
Vellaripraavinte Changaathi |
2011 |
Arun Ghosh,Bijoy Chandran |
Akku Akbar |
Spanish Masala |
2012 |
MV Naushad |
Lal Jose |
Arike - So Close |
2012 |
Vindhyan |
Shyama Prasad |
Maayamohini |
2012 |
P Sukumar,Madhu Wariar |
Jose Thomas |
Mr Marumakan |
2012 |
Maha Subair,Nelson Eapen |
Sandhya Mohan |
My Boss |
2012 |
East Coast Vijayan |
Jeethu Joseph |
Naadodi Mannan |
2013 |
VS Suresh |
Viji Thampy |
Proprietors Kammath & Kammath |
2013 |
Anto Joseph |
Thomson |
Sound Thoma |
2013 |
Anoop |
Vaisakh |
Kadal Kadannu Oru Maathukkutty |
2013 |
Santhosh Sivan,Prithviraj Sukumaran,Shaji Natesan |
Ranjith |
Srungaaravelan |
2013 |
Jaison Elamkulam |
Jose Thomas |
Ezhu Sundararaathrikal |
2013 |
Ratheesh Ambatt,Prakash Varma,Jerry John Kallatt |
Lal Jose |
Ring Master |
2014 |
Vaishakh Rajan |
Rafi |
Avathaaram |
2014 |
Udayakrishna,Sibi K Thomas,Dileep Kunnath,Vyasan Edavanakkad (KP Vyasan) |
Joshi |
Villaaliveeran |
2014 |
RB Choudhary |
Sudheesh Sankar |
Ivan Maryaadaraaman |
2015 |
Anto Joseph |
Suresh Divakar |
Life of Josootty |
2015 |
Sunil Lulla,Jayalal Menon,Anil Biswas |
Jeethu Joseph |
Chandrettan Evideya |
2015 |
Sameer Thahir,Shaiju Khalid,Ashiq Usman |
Sidharth Bharathan |
Love 24x7 |
2015 |
Dileep,Mukesh R Mehta |
Sreebala K Menon |
Two Countries [Canadian Thaaraavu] |
2015 |
M Ranjith |
Shafi |
Ithaano Valiya Kaaryam |
2016 U |
Chandni Creations |
Akku Akbar |
Manoradham |
2016 U |
Adv K Anilkumar |
R Sukumaran |
King Liar |
2016 |
Auseppachan |
Lal |
Apoorva GV |
2016 U |
|
Biju Arukutty |
Welcome to Central Jail |
2016 |
Vaishakh Rajan |
Sundar Das |
Pinneyum |
2016 |
Baby Mathew Somatheeram,Adoor Gopalakrishnan |
Adoor Gopalakrishnan |
Saddaam Shivan |
2017 U |
Udayakrishna,Sibi K Thomas,Vyasan Edavanakkad (KP Vyasan),Dileep Kunnath |
Joshi |
Georgettans Pooram |
2017 |
Sivanee Suraj,Arun Ghosh,Bijoy Chandran |
K Biju |
Ramaleela |
2017 |
Tomichan Mulakuppadam |
Arun Gopi |
Pick Pocket |
2018 U |
Sivani Suraj |
P Balachandrakumar |
The Legend |
2018 U |
|
Jomon |
Savaari |
2018 |
Open Ice Creations |
Ashok Nair |
Kammara Sambhavam |
2018 |
Gokulam Gopalan |
Rathish Ambat |
Kodathi Samaksham Balan Vakkeel |
2019 |
Viacom 18 Motion Pictures |
B Unnikrishnan |
Shubharaathri |
2019 |
Aroma Mohan,Abraham Mathew |
Vyasan Edavanakkad (KP Vyasan) |
Jack & Daniel |
2019 |
Shibu Kamal Thameens |
SL Puram Jayasurya |
My Santa |
2019 |
Nishad K Koya,OK Ajeesh,Sandra Mariyam Jose,Saritha Sugeeth |
Sugeeth |
Parakkum Pappan |
2020 U |
|
Vijayan Vishnu |
Keshu Ee Veedinte Naadhan |
2021 |
Nadirsha,Dileep |
Nadirsha |
Prof Dinkan |
2023 U |
Sanal Thottam |
Ramachandra Babu,Ravi K Chandran |
On Air Eappan |
2023 U |
|
Joshi |
Enter The Dragon |
2023 U |
Vinod Kumar |
Saji Kumar |
Voice of Sathyanathan |
2023 |
NM Badusha,Shinoy Mathew,Dileep,JP Prijin |
Rafi |
Bandra |
2023 |
Vinayaka Ajith |
Arun Gopi |
Thankamani |
2024 |
RB Choudhary,Rafi Mathira |
Ratheesh Raghunandan |
Pavi Care Taker |
2024 |
Dileep |
Vineeth Kumar |
Bha Bha Ba |
2025 P |
Gokulam Gopalan,Baiju Gopalan,VC Praveen |
Dhananjay Shankar |
Prince and Family |
2025 P |
Listin Stephen,Justin Stephen |
Binto Stephen |