AMMA chief superstar Mohanlal on Monday said the actors' body could have split if accused actor Dileep had not been removed following the kidnapping of a Malayalam actress. He denied there was any male dominance in the organisation. Facing the media for the first time after he took over as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes, Mohanlal said: "Had a decision then not been taken, maybe AMMA would have even split," said Mohanlal. Dileep was removed from other film bodies too.

The decision to oust Dileep was taken in 2017 at an emergency executive meeting held at actor Mammootty's house, following the February kidnapping in Kochi. "At that time it was one that had to be taken." Dileep is now out on bail after languishing in a Kerala jail for 85 days.