Malayalam actor Dileep is set to return to cinemas with Bha Bha Bha after his acquittal, but public opinion remains deeply divided. Despite controversies and protests, the film is headed for a massive Kerala release with strong advance bookings
Still from Bha Bha Bha
Malayalam actor Dileep, who was acquitted by a Kerala court in the 2017 actress assault case, is now gearing up for his big-screen comeback with Bha Bha Bha. The Malayalam film, backed by producer Gokulam Gopalan, also stars Mohanlal in a pivotal role. However, the timing of Dileep’s release soon after his acquittal, along with the survivor’s response to the verdict, has left public sentiment sharply divided.
Dileep's controversy after acquittal
Days after the acquittal, a heated argument reportedly broke out on a KSRTC bus when an old Dileep film was screened. While several female passengers opposed the screening, others defended it. Protests and calls for complete justice for the survivor were also seen at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). Reports indicate that Dileep also withdrew from a temple event in Ernakulam, where he was scheduled to inaugurate the temple festival’s coupon distribution. Sources say there were objections from the temple committee and the Devaswom Board regarding his participation.
Amid this, Bha Bha Bha, which also stars Vineeth Sreenivasan and Dhyan Sreenivasan, is set for a massive release on December 18. The film will hit around 450 screens across Kerala, marking one of the widest releases in the state this year.
Massive opening expected for Bha Bha Bha
Advance bookings for the film opened on Monday morning and have seen strong traction. Speaking to mid-day, trade analyst AB George predicts an opening of Rs 6-7 crore at the Kerala box office based on early trends. The overall India collection is expected to be around Rs 7-8 crores.
A significant portion of the film’s opening-day momentum is being attributed to Mohanlal’s superstar presence. “Mohanlal has been at his peak this year with box-office successes like L2: Empuraan, Thudarum, Hridayapoorvam. Bha Bha Bha also has the potential to become the second-highest opener of the year in Kerala, overtaking Thudarum,” George shares.
The film, directed by Dhananjay Shankar, is also expected to perform well overseas. However, Malayalam cinema, which usually enjoys good footfall in international markets, will face stiff competition from Hollywood’s Avatar: Fire and Ash, releasing on December 19, and the rising popularity of the Hindi film Dhurandhar. Despite this, George predicts an approximate worldwide opening of Rs 17 crore for Bha Bha Bha.
Meanwhile, producer Gokulam Gopalan, one of the biggest names in Malayalam cinema today and the man behind L2: Empuraan earlier this year, is backing the film with full force despite the divided sentiment surrounding Dileep. While the court acquitted the actor, public opinion on the matter remains split, with continued social media backlash against him.
Dileep's last blockbuster was in 2017
While the noise around Dileep and his former involvement with the case may have some impact on the film’s box office, the film appears to be headed for a stellar opening. The rest of the film’s fate will depend on how good the movie is and the word-of-mouth response it receives.
Dileep’s last blockbuster was Ramaleela in 2017. The film was released in theatres in September 2017, months after Dileep was arrested in the actress assault case in July that year. However, despite his involvement in the case coming to light, the film performed strongly at the box office, largely driven by positive word of mouth.
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