Oct. 3: Kerala today watched the unusual spectacle of a superstar accused of plotting the sexual assault of an actress stepping out of prison after 85 days to a tumultuous welcome staged by fans who distributed sweets.

Among the first to camp outside the jail after Kerala High Court granted bail to Dileep were the producer and director of the actor's sole movie to be released after his arrest.

Ramaleela, a political thriller, is running to packed houses in the state, belying predictions that it would bomb at the box-office because of the blow to the image of Dileep who had become one of the most bankable stars in Malayalam cinema because of his popularity among the so-called "family audience".

Before Dileep was arrested, such was his popularity among women and children that in the family segment, he was considered a bigger draw than the reigning Big Two, Mammootty and Mohanlal.

But when Dileep was arrested in the case and taken around for evidence collection, huge crowds had followed the group and booed the actor.

On the night of February 17, the leading actress had allegedly been kidnapped and sexually assaulted in her car. Dileep has been accused of hiring the prime accused, Sunil Kumar alias "Pulsar" Suni, to settle scores with the actress. Dileep has consistently denied the charges but multiple courts had turned down his bail plea four times.

Today was the fifth attempt at seeking bail from judicial custody - and the high court has set several conditions. The actor has been asked not to discuss the case with the media and not to malign the victim.

The case has deeply polarised the state - with extreme positions being aired on marathon primetime discussions on several news channels.

When Ramaleela was released and it raked in over Rs 10 crore in the first four days against a budget of Rs 16 crore, Dileep's detractors had suggested that paid fans are behind the initial box-office collections but the film has continued to do well.

"He has not watched the film," producer Tomichan Mulakuppadam told reporters while waiting for Dileep to come out.

Today, hundreds of his fans rushed to the jail in central Kerala within minutes of Dileep being granted bail. They celebrated, distributed sweets and poured milk on a large hoarding bearing the picture of the superstar. Many fans waited along the road that he took to reach his brother Anoop's home.

When he emerged from the jail gate a little over three hours after the court order, Dileep thanked the fans, offered them a namaste, waved at them and blew kisses before getting into a car and heading to Anoop's home, a 10 minutes' drive away. Dileep's wife, actress Kavya Madhavan, and other family members were waiting there.

Honouring the court's order, Dileep didn't speak to reporters waiting outside jail and his brother's home.

He faces charges that include criminal conspiracy, wrongful confinement, kidnap, gang rape, receiving stolen property, disappearance of evidence, harbouring offenders and capturing images of private parts of any person without consent.