Lal . A. K. Lohithadas 's Joker (2000) did very well as well, Dileep was noted for playing himself. With the commercial success of such comedy - melodramas , Sibi Malayil 's Ishtam (2001), Aku Akbar and Aby Jose's Mazhathullikkilukkam (2002), and Sasi Shankar's Kunjikkoonan (2002), Dileep had established himself as