Darshan Thoogudeepa is a prominent actor and producer in the Kannada film industry who is known as a challenging star in the Kannada film industry. Darshan, fondly called “Box Office Sultan” and “Dasa” by his fans, is the elder son of the renowned talent of the Kannada film industry, Thugudeep Srinivas. He has acted in more than fifty films in his film career of almost two decades and has become a favourite actor of Kannada cinephiles.
Darshan Thoogudeepa Biography
Darshan Thoogudeepa Career
1977, February 16, on the afternoon of Shivaratri, was born as the eldest son of Thugudeep Srinivas and Meena at Ramakrishna Sevashram, Ponnampet. His birth name was Hemant Kumar. He completed his childhood education in Mysore.
Sister Divya and brother Dinkar Tugudeepa. In 2003, Vijayalakshmi, a chemical engineering student at Dharmasthala, got hold of him. The couple has a son Vinish.
Tugudeepa, who was supporting her family elegantly through her artistic life, became bedridden due to kidney failure. Meena spent all her money except for a house for her husband’s treatment. The situation came to be difficult even for daily meals.
During this time JSS Hospital helped financially. Meena gave a kidney to her husband. Darshan, who was studying polytechnical diploma in JSS, left it halfway and joined the famous theatre troupe ‘Neenasam’ of Shimoga and started receiving acting training.
In 1995, Tugudeepu died of a heart attack at the age of 52 while he was in Shimoga. Later, Meena set up a mess for family farming, while Darshan kept a cow and sold milk.
Tugudeepa Sutharam did not want Darshan to go into the film industry. However, he persisted and joined ‘Neenasam’ with his mother’s encouragement. Mandya Ramesh did the decoration for her first stage entrance there. Before this, she had also done modelling four or five times at Jaganmohan Palace in Mysore.
After Neenasam, Darshan came to Bangalore looking for acting opportunities and was quickly disappointed. Finally, he started his journey in the film industry as a light boy. After facing many insults, he got to know Anaji Nagaraj here. Aniji worked as an assistant to renowned cinematographer BC Gaurishankar (father of actress Rakshita Prem). Darshan also worked as an assistant cameraman under Gaurishankar.
In 1997, S Narayan gave him a chance in his movie ‘Mahabharat’. Later he acted in the serial “Detective Chandrakanta”. But Darshan is mostly recognized for acting in S Narayan’s “Ambika” serial. He has also worked as a dubbing artist by voicing some characters in three cartoons. In total, Darshan acted in supporting roles in one Tamil and five Kannada films.
In 2002, Darshan entered the Kannada film industry as a hero in the film ‘Majestic’ directed by PN Satya. The film got a great response and completed a century in many theatres in Karnataka, the film ‘Kariya’ directed by Prem which opened in 2003 also got a good response and set a record of running for more than 800 days in Karnataka.
Some films that followed were not successful. Kalasipalya, which came to the screens at that time, ran for more than 250 days. From here the Darshan-Rakshita duo gave many successful films in Kannada.
In 2007, he acted in the film ‘Anatharu’ with Upender. In the same year, he played the role of Sasahasimha Vishnuvardhan’s son in the film ‘Ee Bandhan’. Darshan can be said to be the only Kannada actor who played the role of the son of “Ambi-Vishnu” who were childhood friends.
Darshan acted in films like `Ayya’, `Mandya’, `Gaja’, `Sarathy’, `Bulbul’, `Brindavan’, `Ambareesh’ etc. In 2012, Darshan acted as Rayanna in the historical film ‘Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna’. The film won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor and the Karnataka State Award. In Darshan’s 50th film ‘Kurukshetra’, he played the role of Duryodhana.
In 2006, he started ‘Thoogudeepa Productions’ along with his brother Dinakara and produced the film ‘Jothe Jotheyaali’. This company, which is promoting Dinakar Tugudeepa, has produced films such as Bulbul, Navagraha, Maduvey Mamathei Kareole. Later, after starting Thugudeepa Distribution, this company has also distributed films like Brindavan, Oggarane, Jailalitha, Ugram.
Darshan has been an animal lover since childhood. Sometimes he used to steal my mother’s money and bring pigeons and fish to the house. Similarly, they used to bring stray dogs and make a cardboard house for them to sleep. Once, when he was in the second class, he saw a horse and went round the school to catch it and bring it back.
Darshan, who used to go to Mysore zoo during holidays, was given a tiger by the administrator to take care of it. From there, Nantu got a great knowledge about animals. Even now, he has adopted many animals in Mysore zoo.
Darshan owns a mini farm house near T.Naraseepur, Mysore where he keeps more than 120 animals including horses and cows. It is special that he rode on his farm’s pet horse ‘Badal’ in films like
Sangolli Rayanna , Sarathi etc. When Darshan’s beloved horse ‘Stanley’ died in Pondicherry, Darshan was deeply saddened and had its picture on his right arm.
In 2018, he was appointed as the Ambassador of Forest Department of Government of Karnataka.
Arrest: Challenging star Darshan has been arrested in the case of Chitradurga native Renukaswamy’s murder that took place on June 11, 2024 in Kamakshipalaya, Bangalore.
Darshan Thoogudeepa Awards
• 2010: Zee Kannada Innovative Film Award for Onida Style Icon
• 2012: TV9 awards for Best Actor for Saarathi
• 2012: Suvarna Film Award for Favorite Hero for Saarathi
• 2012: Filmfare Award South for Best Actor for Saarathi
• 2012: SIIMA Award for Best Actor for Saarathi
• 2012: Bangalore Press Club Man of the Year
• 2012: Bangalore Times Film Awards for Best Actor for Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna
• 2012: Suvarna Film Award- Favorite Hero for Saarathi
• 2013: Suvarna Film Award- Best Actor for Kranthiveera Sangolli Rayanna
• 2013: Filmfare Award South- Best Actor for Kranthiveera Sangolli Rayanna
• 2013: SIIMA Awards for Best Actor for Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna
• 2013: Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor for Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna
• 2021: 9th SIIMA Award Best Actor for Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna
• 2017: Global Integrity Award
• 2020: South Indian International Movie Award- Best Actor in a Leading Role for Yajamana
Darshan Thoogudeepa Controversies
Accused of Domestic Violence
In September 2011, Darshan’s wife filed a complaint against him, accusing the latter of domestic violence. An attempt to murder case was also filed against him. He was subsequently arrested and had to spend 14 days in judicial custody at Parappana Agrahara Prison, Bangalore.
Accused of Rash Driving
In 2018, while he was along with his friend Antony travelling in a SUV car, their car rammed into a street light. The bypassers said that Darshan was driving the car. However, his friend Anthony Roy was booked under the sections of IPC (Indian Penal Code – Section 279) for rash driving.
Assaulted a Waiter
In 2021, he was accused of assaulting a waiter in a hotel in Mysuru. Later, people present at the time of incident said that the local police had closed the case by giving him Rs 50,000.
Keeping Illegal Birds as Pets
In 2023, a case was filed against Darshan, his wife, and his farmhouse manager for keeping bar headed geese, a migratory bird illegally at his farmhouse. A search team of state forest department also conducted searches at his home after he was seen wearing a tiger claw pendant.
Instructing His Dogs to Attack a Woman
In November 2023, a woman filed a case against Darshan for instructing his dogs to attack her. She had asked Darshan to move his three dogs away from her. However, Darshan started an argument with her after which the incident happened.
Abused and Threatened a Businessman
On 26 February 2023, while he was at a pub, a businessman named Yeshwant requested the DJ there to play songs of the Indian actor Puneeth Rajkumar. Darshan and his aides got upset over it as they wanted to play only Darshan’s songs. They then started abusing and threatening Yeshwant and his family. Later, an FIR was registered against Darshan and his aides.
Arrested in a Murder Case
On 11 June 2024, he was arrested in Mysuru in connection with a murder case. According to the police, Darshan killed a person named Renuka Swamy who belonged to Chitradurga as he was involved in online harassment of Pavithra Gowda, rumoured girlfriend of Darshan.
Social Media Profiles
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Unknown Facts About Darshan Thoogudeepa
- Darshan Thoogudeepa grew up in Kodagu, Karnataka.
- In childhood, he worked as a light boy and projectionist in various Kannada films.
- He did his schooling in Mysore.Darshan Thoogudeepa in his teens
- After completing his schooling, he applied for admission to Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Polytechnic, Mysore.
- Against his father’s wishes, Darshan then enrolled in Ninasam – Nilakanteshwara Natyaseva Sangha, a theatre training institute in Shimoga, before his father died in 1995.
- In 1966, his father appeared in the Kannada film Thoogudeepa with which he gained immense popularity. Since then his father started using Thoogudeepa after his name.
- After his father’s death, he worked at their hotel and sold cow milk to meet the family’s financial expenses.
- He then modelled for Jaganmohan Palace in Mysore.
- Before making his career in acting, he worked as an assistant cameraman to the Indian cinematographer B. C. Gowrishankar.
- As an actor, he made his debut with a TV serial by the Indian film director and producer S. Narayan. He then played a few small roles in TV serials for which he used to receive Rs 200 per day.
- Darshan has acted in many popular Kannada films including ‘Kariya’ (2003), ‘Saarathi’ (2011), ‘Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna’ (2012), ‘Ambareesha’ (2014), ‘Yajamana’ (2019), and ‘Kurukshetra’ (2019).Yajamana
- In 2006, he started his film production house named Thoogudeepa Productions.
- He has produced a few Kannada films like ‘Navagraha’ (2008), ‘Bulbul’ (2013), and ‘Maduveya Mamatheya Kareyole’ (2016).
- He has lent his voice to various Kannada films’ songs like “Haago Heege” from ‘Saarathi’ (2011), “Khel Khatam” from Ambareesha (2014), and “Dasharatha Title Track” from ‘Dasharatha’ (2019).Haago Heege
- He started his film distribution company named Thoogudeepa Distributors in 2013. Some of his Kannada films as a film distributor are ‘Ugramm’ (2014), ‘Oggarane’ (2014), ‘Rhaatee’ (2015), ‘Buguri’ (2015), ‘Melkote Manja’ (2017), and ‘Life Jothe Ondu Selfie’ (2018).
- As a narrator, he has worked in a few Kannada films like ‘Dasharatha’ (2019) and ‘Ombattane Dikku’ (2022).
- In January 2024, the Indian actress Pavithra Gowda shared a reel along with Darshan after which it was speculated that Darshan and Pavithra were in a relationship.
- On his YouTube channel D Boss Kingdom, his interviews, work-related videos, and personal videos are uploaded.
- Darshan has played cricket for the Celebrity Cricket League from the team Karnataka Bulldozers.
- He has also started a cricket league named Thoogudeepa Cricket League.
- He is a religious person and regularly visits various temples.
- He is an avid animal lover. He has also adopted a few animals from various zoos. He owns a mini zoo.
- Darshan follows the teachings of the spiritual leader Parama Poojya Siddaganga Sri.
- He has campaigned for the Indian politician Sumalatha in various political rallies.
- He has been associated with various social welfare organisations.
- He has a huge fan base in Karnataka, and his fans have started an online fan group named D Company.
- In 2019, he was appointed as the brand ambassador of the Forest Department of the Karnataka Government.
- In 2023, he campaigned for the BJP in the 2023 Karnataka legislative assembly election. Whereas, in 2024, he campaigned for Indian National Congress candidate Star Chandu during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
- He was once one of the highest-paid actors in the Kannada film industry.
- In an interview, he shared that he smokes and consumes alcohol.
- On 11 June 2024, Darshan, his rumoured girlfriend Pavithra Gowda, and ten other people were arrested in a murder case of a man named Renuka Swamy.Renuka Swamy
- It was later revealed that Darshan was angry with Swamy for his abusive messages to Gowda. Swamy often made bad comments on Gowda’s Instagram account for causing problems between Darshan and his wife, Vijay Lakshmi.
- One source revealed that Darshan contacted Raghavendra, the organiser of Chitradurga’s Darshan Fan Club to gather information about Renuka Swamy.
- Reportedly, Darshan made a plan and told Raghavendra to bring Swamy to Darshan’s place. Swamy, a die-hard fan of Darshan, was happy upon hearing this and agreed to go to Bengaluru with Raghavendra. Another source claimed that Swamy was kidnapped from Chitradurga to Bengaluru.
- Allegedly, Darshan and the other accused beat Swamy with sticks, and Darshan also kicked Swamy in his private part. They also slammed his head with an auto parked in the shed.
- Darshan denied any involvement in the murder and claimed during the police investigation that he met Swamy and slapped him twice for sending such messages to Gowda after which Swamy apologised to him. He said that he gave money to Swamy to eat lunch and left the place.
- It was also said that on the day of the murder of Swamy, Darshan partied the whole night.
- On 16 June 2024, Darshan, Pavithra Gowda, and other accused were remanded to police custody till 20 June 2024. According to the people present in the court, Gowda started crying in the court while Darshan remained calm.
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