Dileep

Mimicry came first for Dileep. Born Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan, he got serious about it while studying history at Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, and later performed with groups including Harisree and Cochin Guinness. With Nadirshah he made Dhe Maveli Kombathu, a series of comic audio releases for Onam, and Asianet viewers knew him from Comicola and Cinemala. Films began behind the camera, as Kamal's assistant director on Vishnulokam (1991); his first acting appearance was a small part in Ennodishtam Koodamo (1992), also directed by Kamal. Mainly a Malayalam actor, producer and dubbing artist, he also has business interests in cinema halls and restaurants. Manathe Kottaram (1994) gave him his first lead, and two 1996 releases, Sallapam and Ee Puzhayum Kadannu, established him as a bankable star. Comedies such as Punjabi House, Thenkasipattanam and Ee Parakkum Thalika followed, and Meesha Madhavan (2002) fetched him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam. Kunjikoonan brought a Special Jury Award from the state, and Vellaripravinte Changathi the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor. Graand Production, the banner he started in 2003 with C.I.D. Moosa, produced Twenty:20 for AMMA. He has acted in over 150 films. Ahead is Neekkam, Jagan Shaji Kailas's directorial debut, whose teaser hints that he plays a journalist, and Henok: The Man in the Mist, a murder mystery directed by Ullas Krishna, launched on 19 October 2026.