Dileep’s next with Udal director titled Thankammani? Neeta Pillai joins team as female lead

Malayalam actor Dileep is all set to join the sets of his next movie, which will be helmed by Udal director Ratheesh Reghunandan. The movie, which is reportedly titled Thankammani, also has Neeta Pillai as part of the cast.

The team will kick off the shoot with a pooja function in Kochi on January 27, with Dileep expected to begin shooting from February first week. The movie, which is set to be made on a big budget, is backed by Super Good Films and Iffaar Media.

The movie marks Ratheesh’s second project after last year’s Udal, which had Durga Krishna, Dhyan Sreenivasan and Indrans as part of the cast. Meanwhile, Neeta Pillai, who was last seen in Suresh Gopi’s Paappan, will be starring in her fourth film in the lead role after Poomaram and The Kung Fu Master – both helmed by Abrid Shine.

Dileep, meanwhile, has been busy with Arun Gopy’s big budget venture Bandra, which will also mark the Malayalam debut of Baahubali actress Tamannaah Bhati. The multi-starrer also has Dino Morea and Sarathkumar as part of the cast, apart from a long list of artistes from other film industries.

In an earlier interview with OTTplay, Arun, who had earlier worked with Dileep in Ramaleela, said, “This is an action-oriented entertainer, but it’s the emotional aspect of the story that drives the movie. It’s made on a big canvas and has a decent budget. It’s a film that we are trying to make within our limitations.” The film will reportedly have Tamannaah essaying the role of a Bollywood actress.

Dileep, who was last seen in a cameo role in Thattassery Koottam, has also completed shooting for Raffi’s Voice of Sathyanathan, which has Joju George, Veena Nandakumar and Anupam Kher as part of the cast. The movie is expected to be his first theatrical release this year.