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Star union

D Jose

Manju Warrier

It took four years for Malayalam actress Manju Warrier to marry actor Dileep. But she finally did recently -- at the Srikrishna Swami temple in Aluva.

Family members of both the stars weren't present on the occasion. The stars had apparently not sought the approval of their families. There were only two people from the Malayalam film industry present at the ceremony.

The couple went to Dileep's new house at Aluva immediately after the ceremony. Later, they headed north, to Thrissur, where they met family members of the bride.

Though Manju's parents were aware that the two were in love for some time now, they did not encourage Manju to marry Dileep. They had even prevented her from working with him.

The two had acted together in a number of films, most of which were major hits. They appeared together for the first time in Sallapam. At that time Manju had kicked up a controversy, going off with a youth from the sets. She returned a week later after a court intervened.

The acquaintance between the two had started on the sets of Sallapam and deepened into a relationship after they acted together in several successful ventures. The two had consistently denied media reports about the affair.

Manju told Rediff on the NeT a week before her marriage that she had no immediate plans for marriage. She said she wanted to concentrate on her career rather than get married. She apparently feared she would have to quit acting after matrimony.

Dileep said neither he nor Manju had given any serious thought to the future. He said they would take a decision only after Manju completing her pending assignments. However, he indicated he did not like the idea of his wife pursuing an acting career.

Manju's first film was Sakshyam, directed by Mohan. She established herself as a major actress after Ee Puzhuyum Kadannu which earned her the 1996 best actress award. She is considered one of the more talented actresses of Malayalam cinema and her recent films include Kaliyattom, Daya, Aram Thampuran and Kanmadam.

Dileep was a member of the Kalabhawan mimicry troupe. He played a hero for the first time in Manathe Kottaram and his major films include Sallapam, Ormacheppu and Sindura Killadi.