Is Kerala actor assault case unraveling Dileep's hero image?

Director Balachandrakumar gave statements supported by audio clips alleging Dileep's direct involvement in the actor assault case. Is the assault case unraveling the hero image of Dileep?

Actor Dileep has had a controversial past few years. The vastly popular Malayalam film actor is the eighth accused in a 2017 assault case from Kerala. Dileep has been linked to an alleged abduction and sexual assault of a Malayalam film actress. He was even arrested by the Kerala Police and spent some time behind bars in 2017.

But the evidence of his popularity was there for everybody to see when Dileep went on to star in 10 movies since 2017, most of them family entertainers. During the release of Ramaleela, Dileep was in jail, but that didn't stop people from flocking to the theatres. The film ended up making 55 crore, further solidifying the sway Dileep had over his audience.