Disappointment, joy, fear for safety: Mixed emotional response from the film industry over acquittal of Dileep

The verdict favouring Dileep in the actress assault case has triggered a wave of contrasting reactions within the film industry, with several voices emerging both in support of and against the actor. While some individuals holding key positions in industry associations have openly expressed support for Dileep, many chose to stand firmly with the survivor. Film Producers Association president B Rakesh said that both he and the association had long believed in the actor’s innocence, while maintaining solidarity with the survivor.
“Even the survivor is important to us. However, our belief that Dileep was not part of the conspiracy has been proven true today,” he told Onmanorama.

AMMA vice-president Lakshmipriya, while speaking from the AMMA office premises, said she was personally relieved by the verdict. She maintained that she had always stood by Dileep throughout the case, and added that this did not mean she disregarded what the survivor had undergone. Director Arun Gopy, the man behind Dileep’s ‘Ramaleela’, which went on to become a huge success, openly expressed his happiness by sharing a photo with Dileep with the comment, “I am not disheartened by the sunset of the past, but I look forward to the sunrise from today.”

Voice artist Bhagyalakshmi, however, was among the first to express deep disappointment over the verdict, calling it a setback not just for the survivor but for everyone who stood firmly by the truth. Speaking to Onmanorama, she pointed out that it was not the survivor but the first accused who had originally claimed that actor Dileep had hired a quotation gang.

According to her, the court chose to “sideline those who remained consistent in their statements” while giving weight to witnesses who had changed their versions.
“There were over a thousand pages of evidence. There were many genuine, unwavering testimonies. But they were overlooked,” she said, her frustration unmistakable.

In sharp contrast, makeup artist Renju Renjimar, a familiar name in Malayalam cinema and a witness in the case, echoed Bhagyalakshmi’s dismay. Renju revealed that she had, in fact, anticipated such a verdict because her experience during the witness examination had left her disillusioned.

“I became a witness at a later stage, after the investigation team traced a phone call I had with another actress. But from the very beginning, there was prejudice in how my statement was recorded. Many witnesses felt the same. Even back then, I expected a verdict like this,” she admitted.

Renju, who recently spoke to the survivor, said she had advised her about the possibility of an unfavourable judgment, encouraging her to stay strong despite everything she had already endured. She also shared a more personal worry—her safety.
“I’ve been sensing this fear for a few days now. I was one of the witnesses who stayed firm, who did not change my statement. So even though the verdict hasn’t gone our way, I’m at peace because I was true to my conscience,” she said.