Dhileban
Dhileban is an Indian actor, best known for Tamil cinema. Dhileban began their career in 2013 and has been a prominent figure in the industry for over 13 years. With 30 credits to their name and an average audience rating of 6.4, Dhileban remains one of the most prolific and celebrated talents in the industry. Spanning 10+ years, Dhileban's career remains one of the longest and most celebrated in Tamil cinema.
- Born
- Age
- 8
Career Milestones
Film debut as lead actor
View film →Major supporting role in high-profile Rajinikanth film
View film →Second lead role in independent Tamil film
View film →Iconic Roles
Vatthikuchi
Dileepan's debut lead role as an auto rickshaw driver who gets entangled with gangsters; a breakthrough performance opposite Anjali that launched his career.
Kaala
Rajinikanth's elder son in Pa. Ranjith's acclaimed film, who joins his father in the fight against forced land eviction in Dharavi, Mumbai.
Kuthoosi
Dileepan's second lead role; despite the film underperforming at the box office, it remains one of his notable starring vehicles before he transitioned to supporting roles.
Defining Moments
Debut performance as Sakthi, an auto-rickshaw driver who confronts injustice despite personal risk — establishing him as a naturalistic, street-level hero with genuine screen presence
His debut in an AR Murugadoss production was his career launchpad; critics noted his convincing physicality and chemistry with Anjali, earning him the nickname 'Vatthikuchi Dileepan'
View film →Portrayal of Selvam, Kaala's second son who fights alongside his father against land eviction in Dharavi, culminating in his character's death at the hands of Hari Dhadha's goons
Acting opposite Rajinikanth in a Pa. Ranjith film and being singled out by critics as one of the film's strongest supporting performances significantly elevated his profile
View film →Lead role carrying the entire film as the hero navigating comedic and action-oriented situations — his only solo lead outing post-debut
Despite commercial failure, this film showed his range as a lead actor and marked the pivot point in his career toward character/supporting roles
View film →Dhileban by the Numbers
If you watched every Dhileban film back-to-back, you'd be at it for roughly 1 day and 11h. Most-paired with Aadukalam Naren — 3 films together.
Filmography
See all 30 credits →
Collaboration Network
The Constellation
Top 10 most-paired collaborators. Bubble size and line thickness reflect how many films they share with Dhileban.
Career Analytics
Genre Breakdown
Language Distribution
Films by Decade
Top Co-Actors
See all →Dhileban has worked most frequently with Aadukalam Naren (3 films), Sampath Raj (3 films), Abhirami (3 films), Yogi Babu (3 films), and Arjai (3 films).
Legacy & Influence
Dhileban is a contemporary actor in Tamil cinema whose career, beginning in the 2010s, represents the evolving pathways for performers in the modern Indian film industry. Emerging from supporting roles, his filmography showcases a deliberate shift towards more prominent parts in socially-conscious and genre-driven narratives. His early appearance in 'Vatthikuchi' (2013) placed him within the industry, but it was his leading role in the 2019 film 'Kuthoosi' that marked a significant step, anchoring a film that engaged with relevant themes. This trajectory continued with projects like 'Aadhaar' (2022), a film directly engaging with India's biometric identity system, demonstrating a preference for scripts with contemporary societal relevance. His involvement in the anticipated 'Ten Hours' (2025) suggests a continued focus on substantive roles. While not yet a mainstream star, Dhileban's career choices contribute to a segment of Tamil cinema that prioritizes thematic weight and narrative experimentation alongside commercial appeal. His work, particularly in films that tackle specific social infrastructures or moral dilemmas, adds to the diversity of stories being told. He operates within a new generation of actors who are selectively building filmographies that balance artistic intent with audience engagement, thereby influencing the types of projects that gain traction. His contribution lies in consistently participating in films that aim to provoke thought while entertaining, thereby supporting directors and writers who are pushing thematic boundaries in regional cinema.