Malayalam actor Dileep is gearing up for his next film, tentatively titled ‘D 153’, which will be directed by Ullas Krishna. The project is scheduled to begin with a pooja ceremony in Alappuzha on October 19, as officially announced by the makers. The announcement comes as the actor awaits the release of ‘Neekkam’, his upcoming thriller directed by debutant Jagan Shaji Kailas.
Dileep and Ullas Krishna join hands for ‘D 153’
The upcoming film brings Dileep together with Ullas Krishna, who made his directorial debut with ‘Pushpaka Vimanam’ in 2024. The new project is currently identified as ‘D 153’, although the makers have not announced its final title.The pooja ceremony will mark the beginning of the film’s production. The invitation features the tagline “The investigation begins”, prompting speculation about a possible crime investigation storyline. However, the makers have not confirmed the genre or revealed details about the plot.
What is known about Ullas Krishna’s previous film?
Ullas Krishna made his directorial debut with ‘Pushpaka Vimanam’, a fantasy action comedy released in 2024. The film starred Siju Wilson and Balu Varghese in the lead roles. Although the film had not received much attention during it’s theatrical release, the responses from the viewers were mostly positive.
Dileep awaits the release of ‘Neekkam’
Apart from ‘D 153’, Dileep is awaiting the release of ‘Neekkam’, also referred to as ‘D 152’. The upcoming film is an emotional thriller directed by debutant Jagan Shaji Kailas, son of filmmaker Shaji Kailas. It marks the director’s entry into feature filmmaking.Vibin Balachandran has written the film, with Veena Nandakumar playing the female lead. The supporting cast includes Binu Pappu, Siddique and Kalabhavan Shajohn. The makers released the film’s teaser and first-look poster in April 2026. The promotional material carried the tagline “Beyond Destiny”. A second-look poster followed in August, featuring Dileep in an older appearance.Dileep’s previous release, ‘Bha.Bha.Ba.’, received mixed reactions from audiences. Directed by Dhananjay Shankar, the film also featured Mohanlal in a cameo appearance.The film’s reception was divided, with ETimes awarding it two stars out of five. The review criticised its storytelling, screenplay and execution, despite a disclaimer asking viewers to leave logic aside. The ETimes review highlighted problems with the film’s narrative and overall presentation. It read, “The film, directed by Dhananjay Shankar, and written by husband-wife actor duo Fahim Safar and Noorin Shereef, is confused in its storyline, scripting and making, even though there is a disclaimer to leave logic at the door.“
