Kochi: Dileep had more tricks up his sleeve than his popular appeal to cement his position as the go-to person in the Malayalam cinema industry. He maneuvered his way up the food chain to all decision making bodies in the industry.
His most famous coup was perhaps the split he orchestrated in the Malayalam Cine Technicians Association (MACTA) eight years ago.
The pioneer trade association rubbed Dileep the wrong way when its leadership aligned with veteran director Tulasidas in a dispute. Dileep had refused to act in a Tulasidas movie despite accepting an advance.
He challenged the MACTA president, director Vinayan, who had opposed him in the dispute. Within three days, Vinayan and company found themselves deserted in the association.
A leading director recalled how he received a call from Dileep early in the morning. The actor said that a new association had been formed and the director’s name had been included on a list of members to be given out to the press.
Dileep pleaded with the director not to dissociate with the new trade body. The director obliged him for the sake of old times.
Macta was displaced by the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA).
Reel to real-life hero?
The latest maneuver made Dileep a real-life hero in the industry, when he broke up the powerful distributor lobby that threatened to stop the screening of movies in halls. He lined up the entire industry against the leadership of the exhibitors’ association. The owner of a two-year-old theater in Chalakudy, Dileep split the association to form another one loyal to him.
The showman was on his way to become the ultimate force in Malayalam movie industry when his journey was cut short by the police. The chain of multiplexes Dileep had planned across Kerala would have catapulted him to a position to call the shots on releasing any movie in the state.
Dileep put his money in the industry, while the other stars invested elsewhere. He became a savior of sorts when he offered to produce a movie for the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA). Twenty20 was Dileep’s vehicle to s tardom among stars.
Dileep was crafty enough to gather support for his ventures by offering a piece of the pie to potential allies. Sources said that many of his leading ladies were also made business partners in his realty business. He never considered them as challengers given his stature in all branches of the industry.
Read more: Latest from Entertainment world | Entertainment updates | Mammootty does the honors, announces Dileep's removal from AMMA
