Dileep

Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan, known by his moniker Dilieep or Dileep, is an Indian film actor, producer, and entrepreneur who predominantly works in the Malayalam cinema. He has acted in over 150 films and won several awards, including four Kerala State Film Awards and a Filmfare Awards South.

Beginning as a stage mimic, Dileep initially gained attention through the comedy audio series Dhe Maveli Kombathu and the television programmes Comicola and Cinemala on Asianet. He entered films as an assistant director to Kamal, beginning with Vishnulokam (1991), and made his acting debut with a minor role in Kamal's Ennodishtam Koodamo (1992). His first lead role came with Manathe Kottaram (1994), followed by breakthrough roles in Sallapam and Ee Puzhayum Kadannu in 1996, which established him as a bankable actor. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, he became widely known for slapstick comedies, such as Punjabi House (1998), Thenkasipattanam (2000), Darling Darling (2000), Ee Parakkum Thalika (2001), and Ishtam (2001).

The success of Meesha Madhavan (2002) elevated him to stardom and earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam. That year, he also received the Kerala State Film Award – Special Jury Award for Kunjikoonan, followed by a Special Mention for Chanthupottu (2005). In 2003, he launched his production company Graand Production, debuting with C.I.D. Moosa. He has also appeared in off-beat works such as Kathavaseshan (which he also produced and which won Second Best Film at the state awards) and Perumazhakkalam. In 2008, he produced Twenty:20 on behalf of AMMA, which became the highest-grossing Malayalam film at the time.

Dileep won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for Vellaripravinte Changathi (2011). His later films Two Countries (2015) and Ramaleela (2017) each grossed over ₹50 crore and placed among the higher-grossing Malayalam films of their respective years. Outside films, he owns a multiplex theatre and restaurant chains.