Dileep

Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan, better known by his stage name Dileep, is an Indian actor, producer, and businessman who predominantly works in the Malayalam film industry.

He has acted in more than 150 films and has won several awards, including four Kerala State Film Awards and one Filmfare Awards South.

Beginning as an impressionist in stage shows, Dileep obtained recognition after being cast in the television comedy series Comicola on Asianet and its successor Cinemala.

He then produced and performed in the audio cassette series De Maveli Kombathu with Nadirshah, a successful sketch comedy, which was later turned into a television series on Asianet.

Dileep was born in Edavanakad, in Ernakulam district of Kerala, India to Padmanabhan Pillai and Sarojam on October 22, 1967.

He is the eldest among three children.

He has a brother, Anoop, and a sister, Sabitha.

Dileep started his career at Kalabhavan, working as a mimicry artist in the 1980s.

He also performed in Asianet's comedy show Comicola.

Dileep studied at Vidyadhiraja Vidya Bhavan Higher Secondary School in Aluva, where he passed the tenth standard in 1985, and joined the Union Christian College, Aluva for pre-degree third group, during 1985–1987.

Later, he pursued a degree in history at Maharaja's College, Ernakulam.

It was during his time in Maharaja's College that he began taking impressionist acts seriously.

Dileep along with his friend Nadirshah produced and performed in the Onam-based audio cassette titled De Maveli Kombathu, which helped his entry into the film industry.

He established himself as a successful actor during the late 1990s, mostly playing comedic roles.

He began his film career as an assistant director and worked under director Kamal in nine films, beginning with Vishnulokam in 1991, and made his acting debut with a minor role in Kamal's Ennodu Ishtam Koodamo (1992).

Later, while working as the assistant director to Kamal, he acted in a few small roles, starting with a small scene in Kamal's Ennodu Ishtam Koodamo (1992).

Kamal recommended his name to many directors.

He acted in a principal role in the 1994 film Manathe Kottaram taking the screen name Dileep.

He started using the name of the role Dileep in Manathe Kottaram (1994), as his screen name.

Success of two 1996 films, Kamal's Ee Puzhayum Kadannu and Sundar Das' Sallapam, anchored his place in the Malayalam film industry.

He played a supporting role in I. V. Sasi's Varnapakittu (1997).

Dileep was married to actress Manju Warrier from 1998 to 2015.

Punjabi House in 1998 marked the beginning of the successful Dileep-Harishree Ashokan combo.

Ee Parakkum Thalika (2001) and Kuberan (2002) were a major success at box office and are considered two of the best movies in his career.

In 2002 he won the Kerala State Film Special Jury Award for playing the role of Kunjan in the film Kunjikoonan.

In Lal Jose's Meesa Madhavan (2002), Dileep played the role of the thief Madhavan.

This movie, which eventually developed a cult following was a major breakthrough in his career as it increased Dileep's stardom to a new level in Malayalam cinema.

The same year he also debuted in Tamil cinema with Raajjiyam.

In 2003, Dileep founded the film production company Graand Production, its debut film was C.I.D. Moosa.

Outside of films, Dileep also owns the multiplex theatre D Cinemaas, and the restaurant chain Dhe Puttu.

C.I.D. Moosa (2003), a slapstick comedy by Johny Anthony is considered one of Dileep's career best movies by many fans.

In 2004, he produced and starred in T. V. Chandran's Kadhavaseshan.

He won a Special Mention for his performance in Chanthupottu (2005).

Dileep produced Joshiy-directed Twenty:20 (2008) to raise funds for the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA).

The film became the highest-grossing Malayalam film (₹ 31.4 crore) until that time.

He ventured into production with Malarvaadi Arts Club.

Kaaryasthan (2010) was his 100th movie, For his role in Vellaripravinte Changathi (2011) he won a Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor.

"Two Countries" released on Christmas Day 2015, directed by Shafi, became the highest-grossing film in his career.

He married actress Kavya Madhavan in 2016.

His 2017 film, Ramaleela, became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.