The actor’s career spanning over two decades has been marred by controversies, perhaps the biggest of them all being his recent arrest in connection with the murder of one of his fans in Chitradurga district. | Photo Credit: Murali Kumar K
Thoogudeepa Srinivas was a fierce villain on the big screen from the 1960s to the 1980s. However, very few people knew about his son’s cinema dreams until his success in the film world. Plush In 2001, Hemant Kumar entered the film industry under the name Darshan and became a star overnight. After his first few films, Darshan stepped out of his famous father’s shadow and made a career as a hero, with a large section of the lower middle class following him.
Darshan started out as an artist who worked hard for success, with a driving personality, which is a contrast to the actor’s current reputation. The actor’s career spanning over two decades, right from those early years, has been marred by controversies, the biggest one being his recent arrest in connection with the murder of one of his fans in Chitradurga district.
Right after the success of ” Princely, Darshan was called for a function. He spoke about encouraging new entrants and requested the industry to help them financially. He was humble and did not consider himself a big star,” recalls writer and film critic S Shyam Prasad.
“Darshan had everything it takes to become a superstar,” says a senior Kannada film writer, who did not wish to be named. At 6.3 feet tall and broad-bodied, Darshan has an amazing screen presence. However, after cementing his place in the industry, he started making news for the wrong reasons.
Also read:The Outspoken Superstar
a turning point
Darshan’s off-screen image took a major hit in 2011 when he was arrested for assaulting his wife Vijayalakshmi. The Kannada writer said the incident proved to be a turning point in Darshan’s career.Charioteer The film, which released after a domestic violence incident, turned out to be a huge blockbuster. It was clear to Darshan that no matter what, his fans would not desert him.”
While enjoying the immense love from fans, Darshan – upset by the coverage of his arrest – expressed his deep dislike for the media. Television channels unofficially banned him, but the superstar remained unperturbed as he had his fans to support him. According to industry insiders, the entire episode was the beginning of Darshan’s “I don’t care” attitude.
Darshan, who mostly plays an action hero or an honest police officer, doesn’t mind falling into the trap of image as his die-hard fans want nothing more from him. Speaking about how “dependable” his fans are, a veteran producer says, “Star films are mostly dependable. But only Darshan’s films make at least some profit, even if they are bad.”
Darshan is very simple in expressing his love and displeasure towards his colleagues. There are stories of him going out of his way to help the needy, but his much talked about rift with Sudeep remains constant. Also, his relationship with Dr. Rajkumar’s family has its ups and downs.
love or hate
Film columnist S. Siva Kumar says that he is not a unanimously liked star in the film industry. “People either absolutely hate him or love him a lot. Darshan has created an island where only people he likes come. That’s how he works. He is surrounded by people who are his yes-men but not necessarily guide him in the right direction.”
Also read:The police took Darshan and his companions to the spot
Some call him an enigma, while others see him as a star who has lost his way. He has saved himself from legal troubles several times, but the recent incident has left his ardent fans in a fix as they face the biggest test of their love for an actor who has apparently self-destructed his career at a crucial juncture.
