Dileep is a Malayalam actor, producer, and entrepreneur. He started his career in the 1980s as a mimicry artist and then became an assistant director for director Kamal. He made his acting debut in 1992 with a minor role in Ennodu Ishtam Koodamo, and took his screen name, Dileep, in the 1994 film Manathe Kottaram. He became well known for his comedic roles in the late 1990s. 

Dileep has also produced several films under his own company, Graand Production, and worked as a playback singer. His other films include Geogettan`s Pooram (2017), Ramaleela (2017), Kammara Sambhavam (2018), Savari (2018), Jack & Daniel (2019), and My Santa (2019). 

Dileep has won several awards, including the Kerala State Film Award for best actor in 2011 for Vellaripravinte Changathi, and the Award of Excellence at the Asianet Film Awards in 2013 for 20 years in the Malayalam film industry. He is also known as "Janapriya Nayakan" (popular hero) by his fans in Kerala. 

Dileep was previously married to actress Manju Warrier, and they have a daughter named Meenakshi. He later married actress Kavya Madhavan, and they have a daughter named Mahalakshmi.