Dileesh Pothan

Pothan was born in Omalloor of Manjoor panchayat-village in northern Kottayam district, Kerala. Pothan did his schooling at Emmanuel's High School, Kothanalloor. After pre-degree from Kuriakose Elias College, Mannanam, he pursued a BSc degree at St. Philomena's College, Mysore. Due to his keen interest in drama and cinema, he followed up with an M.A. in Theatre Arts at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady and an M.Phil. in Theatre Arts from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. Pothan married Jimsy on December 2012 at St. Thomas Church, Kuruppanthara. They have a daughter and a son.

Pothan began his career as an associate director to the 2010 film 9 KK Road. He served as an assistant director under Aashiq Abu, assisting in five of Aashiq's films. He made his acting debut as a movie director in one scene in Aashiq Abu's 2011 film Salt N' Pepper. He made his directorial debut with the 2016 comedy-drama film Maheshinte Prathikaaram, starring Fahadh Faasil. The movie received the Best Feature Film in Malayalam Award at the 64th National Film Awards. Pothan also won the Best Director Award at the 64th Filmfare Awards South. His second directional was Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum (2017), which was also a critical and commercial hit. Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum won the Best Feature Film in Malayalam Award as well at the 65th National Film Awards.

Pothan started his film career as an assistant director to the film 9 KK Road (2010). Later on he became an associate director to Aashiq Abu. He assisted director Aashiq Abu in films like 22 Female Kottayam (2012), Da Thadiya (2012), and Gangster (2014). He has also acted in small roles mostly in Aashiq Abu's films, Salt N' Pepper (2011), 22 Female Kottayam (2012), Idukki Gold (2013), Gangster (2014), Iyobinte Pusthakam (2014), and Rani Padmini (2015). He was the chief associate director in Dileesh Nair's 2014 film Tamaar Padaar.

His first appearance infront of a movie camera was as a junior artist in the movie Chandranudikunna Dikkil (1999) directed by Lal Jose. Later his first proper role as an actor was in Salt N' Pepper. Till 2020 he has acted in more than 50 films. Dileesh has also co-produced movies including critically acclaimed 2019 movie Kumbalangi Nights.