Malayalam actor Dileep backed out of a temple programme in Kerala’s Ernakulam following objections raised over his invitation. Dileep was scheduled to inaugurate the festival coupon distribution at the Ernakulam Siva temple by receiving the first coupon.
Following the controversy, the temple authorities rescheduled the programme, which was originally slated for Tuesday, to Wednesday. Dileep will not participate in the event. Objections to his invitation were reportedly raised from within the organising committee.
The development comes amid heightened public scrutiny surrounding the actor after recent court proceedings related to the 2017 Malayalam actor assault case.
On December 12, a Kerala Sessions Court sentenced six convicts to 20 years’ imprisonment in the case, while acquitting Dileep, who had been accused of masterminding the crime. The survivor later expressed dissatisfaction with the trial and said she had lost faith in the trial court.
In a separate incident in Thiruvananthapuram district, a screening of a Dileep-starrer film was halted on a KSRTC Thiruvananthapuram–Thottilpalam Super Fast bus after a woman passenger objected. The film Ee Parakkum Thalika was being played when Lakshmi R Shekhar from Pathanamthitta raised her objection, triggering a discussion among passengers.
According to a video aired by Asianet, Lakshmi said passengers should not be forced to watch films they are not interested in during travel. She said several women passengers supported her objection and found such screenings uncomfortable.
While some passengers backed the protest, others questioned the need to oppose the screening, arguing that a court verdict had already been delivered in the case involving the actor. Lakshmi responded that many women did not want to watch such films during their journey and insisted the screening should be stopped.
As the disagreement escalated into a verbal clash, the bus conductor decided to turn off the film, bringing the situation under control and restoring order on the bus.
– Ends
Published On:
Dec 15, 2025
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