Bha Bha Ba actor Dileep: It’s difficult for me to make a big film work now because… | Exclusive
Malayalam actor Dileep, who will next be seen in Vineeth and Dhyan Sreenivasan’s Bha Bha Ba, talks about box-office successes these days compared to the past, his script selection and more
Last Updated: 03.39 PM, Jul 04, 2025
Malayalam actor Dileep, an accused in the actress abduction and assault case, is gearing up for a big release this year with debutant director Dhananjay Shankar’s Bha Bha Ba, which also has Dhyan Sreenivasan and Vineeth Sreenivasan in pivotal roles.
The actor’s recent hit was Prince and Family, which is currently streaming on ZEE5 via OTTplay Premium. This, however, came after a string of flops including the big-budget Bandra that had Tamannaah Bhatia and Dino Morea.
Dileep on why big films are double-edged swords
Speaking exclusively to OTTplay, Dileep tells us, “People come to watch my film in theatres, purely for entertainment. If we had released Twenty-20 today, it would have been made over Rs 150 Cr. We released it when the theatre ticket rates were Rs 20-30 and it still ended up as the first Malayalam film to collect over Rs 10 Cr. What I am saying is that now when a film becomes a hit, the collections are huge and when it doesn’t work, it just tanks without a trace. There’s no middle path anymore. That’s the difference I have seen in the past decade.”
Ask him if his movies in the past five years not doing well have made him and his producers vary of signing him for big projects and Dileep explains, “As far as I am concerned, it’s difficult for me to make a big film work. It might be easier for others. When you do a serious film with a huge canvas, you never know what the end result will be. Else, the content will have to be strong. If the movie revolves around a family and their sentiments, the chances are high that it would resonate with the Malayali audience.”
Dileep on Bha Bha Ba
That said, Dileep explains that his upcoming film Bha Bha Ba is a “big movie”. “I have been fortunate enough to have the support of big production houses backing my films. Chances are that Bha Bha Ba will release post Onam,” he says, adding he will also have more screen time with Dhyan than they had in Prince and Family.
Point out the example of other veteran actors such as Mammootty now moving away from their comfort zone, and Dileep says, “In movies like Ramaleela and Kammarasambhavam, I have played characters with negative shades. Even those stories that I have been hearing of late, have filmmakers imagining me in roles that I haven’t done before. So, I am hoping that I get to play more of such roles.”