Dileep (born Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan Pillai) is a popular Malayalam actor, producer, and businessman. Starting his career as a mimicry artist, he rose to fame in the 1990s with his natural comic timing and went on to become one of the biggest stars in Malayalam cinema. Known for his versatility, Dileep has appeared in over 150 films ranging from slapstick comedies to family dramas and action packed entertainers. He gained widespread recognition with hits like Punjabi House (1998), Thenkasipattanam (2000), Ee Parakkum Thalika (2001), Meesa Madhavan (2002), Kunjikoonan (2002), Kalyanaraman (2002), C.I.D. Moosa (2003), Runway (2004), Vettam (2004), Chanthupottu (2005), Vinodayathra (2007), Bodyguard (2010) and Two Countries (2015), many of which remain fan favorites. Beyond acting, he has also produced several films under his banner Grand Productions. Dileep has received multiple Kerala State Film Awards and numerous popular accolades throughout his three decade long career. Despite controversies, he continues to be a leading figure in the Malayalam film industry, admired for his crowd pleasing roles and strong boxoffice presence.
