Close to ₹50 crore is riding on actor Dileep, who was arrested here on Monday evening in connection with the abduction and assault of an actor in Kochi.
The Malayalam film industry is keenly awaiting the proceedings as the fate of a few films may depend on the developments in the coming days.
The actor’s next release is Ramaleela , directed by debutant Arun Gopi and produced by Tomichan Mulakupadam. Made at an estimated budget of nearly ₹15 crore, Ramaleela was to hit the screens in the first week of July, but the release was deferred to July 21. People close to the movie said no official decision had been taken on whether to further postpone the release. Efforts to contact Mr. Mulakupadam failed.
New projects
G. Sureshkumar, president of the Kerala Film Producers Association, told The Hindu on Monday evening that three to four projects with the actor in lead role were at various stages of production. These include veteran cinematographer Ramachandrababu’s Prof. Dinkan ; Ratheesh Ambat’s directorial debut Kammarasambhavam ; and a movie to be directed by the actor’s close friend Nadirsha.
Representatives of the producers’ association said the cost of Kammarasambhavam and Prof. Dinkan would be around ₹12-₹15 crore each.
‘No role’
Mr. Sureshkumar described the arrest as a face-saving exercise by the investigators and said that Dileep had no role in the conspiracy. He was made a scapegoat owing to the public pressure on the police and the government, he said. A senior member of the producers’ association said on conditions of anonymity that Mr. Sureshkumar might have to come up with an explanation on taking such a stance, when the issue would be taken up for discussion at the association’s meeting. Kerala society was with the actor who was abducted and sexually assaulted, he said.
