Darshan sent a message to his fans, via his wife Vijayalakshmi, requesting them to make the film a grand success.
Published Dec 11, 2025 | 4:37 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 11, 2025 | 4:37 PM
Darshan's fans perform an 'aarati' at a theatre screening 'The Devil' in Bagalkote on Thursday, 11 December.
Synopsis: Serious allegations of crime did not keep Darshan’s devoted fans, who were eagerly waiting for the actor’s new film. On Thursday, cutouts of Darshan came up outside theatres across Karnataka, where fans garlanded his posters, chanted “D-Boss”, the moniker they use to address him, and celebrated the release like a festival.
A ‘brutal and barbaric’ homicide has not deterred fans from flocking to watch their hero, murder-accused Darshan Thoogudeepa’s latest flick, The Devil.
College student Suresh was one among them, who reached the Forum Mall on Kanakapura Road at 6 am on Thursday, 11 December. He had decided to bunk classes to watch the movie.
Darshan, a remand prisoner, is currently lodged at the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru. He was arrested in connection with the murder of Renukaswamy, a resident of Chitradurga and a fan of the actor.
A pharmacy store worker in Chitradurga, Renukaswamy, was allegedly abducted from his workplace and murdered in Bengaluru on 8 June 2024. His wife, Sahana, was then pregnant with their first child.
Following the incident, the then Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B Dayananda said Renukaswamy was “killed in a very brutal and barbaric way”, terming it a “heinous crime committed in a horrific manner”.
The actor, who was arrested on 11 June 2024, was reportedly angry with Renukaswamy because the latter had allegedly sent lewd messages on social media to actress Pavithra Gowda, Darshan’s long-time friend.
A Bengaluru sessions court on 3 November framed charges of murder and kidnapping against 17 accused, including Darshan and Gowda.
However, the serious allegations did not keep Darshan’s devoted fans, who were eagerly waiting for the actor’s new film.
Darshan’s fans reached movie halls screening ‘The Devil’ hours in advance.
On Thursday, cutouts of Darshan came up outside theatres across Karnataka, where fans garlanded his posters, chanted “D-Boss”, the moniker they use to address him, and celebrated the release like a festival.
Some were even seen performing rituals typically meant to ward off the evil eye. Inside the theatres, the frenzy continued, with fans dancing, waving their phone flashlights, and shouting slogans in his support.
“We were really sad when we heard of his arrest last year. But we have remained ardent fans and will always be. There was no way we could have missed the first show of his new film,” Suresh said.
A restaurant, named after the actor, near RV College in Bengaluru, displayed boards featuring Darshan, adorned with garlands, on Thursday.
The Devil was released on Thursday.
The restaurateur told South First that such boards were regular, not just coinciding with the actor’s film release.
“We admire him a lot, so we celebrate him whenever we can,” he said, requesting anonymity.
The chefs were seen wearing t-shirts that said ‘D-boss’. The restaurant was also offering a ‘buy one, get one free’ largesse on biryani, to celebrate the actor’s film release, on Thursday.
Bookings for The Devil — “a saga of power, vengeance, and true love” — commenced on 6 December, and tickets were sold rapidly. Online platforms reportedly sold over one lakh tickets in a single day, with an additional 30,000 tickets purchased offline. Total advance sales reportedly reached around two lakh tickets before the film’s release.
‘D-boss’ was even trending on X for a while on Thursday morning, with fans using the hashtag to express their adoration for the actor.
“This acting of yours itself says how you won the hearts of fans in the film industry for 26 years. This was needed for our Kannada industry,” a user with the handle, IamDbossCult said on X.
Another fan, who had left his house with the hope of getting a ticket at the theatre in Mysuru, claimed that the case against Darshan was a “conspiracy” created to “tarnish his image.”
“We will always stand by him,” he proudly stated.
Such unwavering, and often unquestioning, loyalty toward Darshan is not new. The actor has faced controversies in the past as well, yet his fans have consistently stood by him, helping his films succeed at the box office.
In 2011, Darshan was booked after his wife Vijayalakshmi accused him of domestic violence. He allegedly beat her up and threatened her with a revolver. He spent several weeks in judicial custody – during this period, his fans protested in front of the police station and burnt buses in anger.
Vijayalakshmi eventually withdrew the complaint, reportedly under pressure from the Kannada film industry. However, his film Saarathi made it to theatres during his time in custody.
Even then, fans flocked in large numbers to make the film a hit at the box office, a moment that sparked renewed concerns about toxic hero worship in the industry.
In fact, some of his fans were arrested for allegedly issuing rape and death threats to Kannada actor-producer and former Mandya MP Divya Spandana, popularly known by her screen name, Ramya, after she had posted a news report regarding the Renukaswamy murder case proceedings in the Supreme Court. She called for justice for the victim’s family in the post.
Meanwhile, despite being behind bars, Darshan sent a message to his fans, via Vijayalakshmi, through a post on Instagram.
“She (Vijayalakshmi) has been updating me every single time about each one of you — your love, your concern, your tireless support, your unstoppable promotions across the state. Even from a distance, I feel your presence with me every moment,” he said in the note.
He urged his fans to “not worry about anything people say.” “Don’t let any noise, any rumour, or any negativity shake your heart.” He called them his “strength” and his “family.” He asked them to channel their love and energy towards his movie.
“Even in my absence, I want you to answer every question, every doubt, every voice…not with words, but with the roaring success of this film. That will be your voice. That will be our statement,” he said. The note was signed at the end with “With all my love, Your Dasa Darshan.”
Darshan had completed the shooting for The Devil while on bail.
Recently, allegations surfaced of Darshan harassing prison inmates. However, Vijayalakshmi dismissed the allegations, stating that she had personally visited the jail and spoken to authorities, Darshan and the individuals who were claimed to had been assaulted.
“These allegations are fake, baseless and created with malicious intent,” she said in the note.
She stated that her faith in ethical journalism is “shaken”.
“It deeply pains me to see how low some media houses have stooped. Every day, my faith in ethical journalism is shaken – not because journalism has failed, but because a few have chosen lies over facts and TRP over truth,” she said.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
