<!-- NewPP limit reportParsed by mw1448Cached time: 20240330181208Cache expiry: 2592000Reduced expiry: falseComplications: [vary‐revision‐sha1, is‐preview]CPU time usage: 0.062 secondsReal time usage: 0.098 secondsPreprocessor visited node count: 133/1000000Post‐expand include size: 9193/2097152 bytesTemplate argument size: 2990/2097152 bytesHighest expansion depth: 12/100Expensive parser function count: 2/500Unstrip recursion depth: 0/20Unstrip post‐expand size: 1653/5000000 bytesLua time usage: 0.035/10.000 secondsLua memory usage: 916204/52428800 bytesNumber of Wikibase entities loaded: 0/400--><!--Transclusion expansion time report (%,ms,calls,template)100.00% 89.805 1 Template:Redirect_category_shell100.00% 89.805 1 -total 98.16% 88.156 1 Template:Mbox 37.59% 33.762 1 Template:R_from_incomplete_disambiguation 8.65% 7.765 2 Template:Redirect_template 5.83% 5.234 1 Template:R_to_section 2.37% 2.125 1 Template:Tl 2.28% 2.044 1 Template:Talk_other-->

Early life

Darshan was born to actor Thoogudeepa Srinivas and Meena on 16 February 1977 in Ponnampet, Kodagu district, in the Indian state of Karnataka. He was given the name Darshan at his birth. ''Thoogudeepa'' is a 1966 Kannada film in which Srinivas acted and gained fame, following which the sobriquet stuck to his name. A popular actor during his time, he was reluctant towards Darshan following his path of film acting. Against his wishes, Darshan got himself enrolled in Ninasam, a theatre training institute, in Shimoga, before his father died in 1995.Darshan has a sister, Divya, and a younger brother, Dinakar, a filmmaker, running the production house, Thoogudeepa Productions. As a child, Darshan studied his primary and secondary education at Mysuru.

Acting career

After graduating from Ninasam, Darshan worked as a projectionist before becoming an assistant cameraman to veteran cinematographer B. C. Gowrishankar. His first acting role came in S. Narayan's television soap. Narayan then offered him a supporting role in his 1997 film ''Mahabharatha''. Darshan subsequently featured in films such as ''Devara Maga'' (2000), ''Ellara Mane Dosenoo'' (2000), ''Bhoothayyana Makkalu'' (2000) and ''Mr. Harishchandra'' (2001), mostly in insignificant and supporting, often bit roles. This period also saw him play minor roles in other television soaps.Darshan's major break in films came with ''Majestic'', directed by P. N. Satya and released in 2001, in which he played the role of Daasa, an innocent youth-turned-underworld don. He then appeared in films such as ''Kitti'', ''Ninagoskara'', ''Neenandre Ishta'' and ''Daasa'', produced by Ramesh Yadav. He starred in Prem's directorial debut, the 2003 action film ''Kariya''. He played a budding musician in ''Laali Haadu'', a journalist in ''Lankesh Patrike'' and a blind poor man in ''Namma Preethiya Ramu''.In 2004, he starred in ''Kalasipalya'', directed by Om Prakash Rao and in P. N. Satya's ''Daasa''. In 2005, he acted in three more films ''Annavru'', ''Shashtri'' and ''Ayya''.He starred again in Anaji Nagaraj's ''Swamy'' (2005), ''Suntaragaali'' (2006), ''Dattha'' (2006), ''Bhoopathi'' (2007), ''Snehana Preethina'' (2007) and ''Anatharu'' (2008), where he starred with Upendra.In 2008, ''Gaja'' helped him to establish a niche as a well built, rustic yet "posh" young man. Further movies include ''Indra'' (2008), ''Arjun'' (2008), ''Navagraha'' (2008), ''Yodha'' (2009), ''Abhay'' (2009).In 2010, he acted as cop disguised as a rogue in ''Porki'', which was a remake of the 2009 Telugu film ''Pokiri''. His next movie was ''Shourya'' (2010). Then came ''Boss'' (2011) and ''Prince'' (2011). He then appeared in films such as ''Kitti'', ''Ninagoskara'', ''Neenandre Ishta'' and ''Daasa'', produced by Ramesh Yadav. He starred in Prem's directorial debut, the 2003 action film ''Kariya''. He played a budding musician in ''Laali Haadu'', a journalist in ''Lankesh Patrike'' and a blind poor man in ''Namma Preethiya Ramu''.In 2004, he starred in ''Kalasipalya'', directed by Om Prakash Rao and in P. N. Satya's ''Daasa''. In 2005, he acted in three more films ''Annavru'', ''Shashtri'' and ''Ayya''.He starred again in Anaji Nagaraj's ''Swamy'' (2005), ''Suntaragaali'' (2006), ''Dattha'' (2006), ''Bhoopathi'' (2007), ''Snehana Preethina'' (2007) and ''Anatharu'' (2008), where he starred with Upendra.In 2008, ''Gaja'' helped him to establish a niche as a well built, rustic yet "posh" young man. Further movies include ''Indra'' (2008), ''Arjun'' (2008), ''Navagraha'' (2008), ''Yodha'' (2009), ''Abhay'' (2009).In 2010, he acted as cop disguised as a rogue in ''Porki'', which was a remake of the 2009 Telugu film ''Pokiri''. His next movie was ''Shourya'' (2010). Then came ''Boss'' (2011) and ''Prince'' (2011). He then appeared in films such as ''Kitti'', ''Ninagoskara'', ''Neenandre Ishta'' and ''Daasa'', produced by Ramesh Yadav. He starred in Prem's directorial debut, the 2003 action film ''Kariya''. He played a budding musician in ''Laali Haadu'', a journalist in ''Lankesh Patrike'' and a blind poor man in ''Namma Preethiya Ramu''.In 2004, he starred in ''Kalasipalya'', directed by Om Prakash Rao and in P. N. Satya's ''Daasa''. In 2005, he acted in three more films ''Annavru'', ''Shashtri'' and ''Ayya''.He starred again in Anaji Nagaraj's ''Swamy'' (2005), ''Suntaragaali'' (2006), ''Dattha'' (2006), ''Bhoopathi'' (2007), ''Snehana Preethina'' (2007) and ''Anatharu'' (2008), where he starred with Upendra.In 2008, ''Gaja'' helped him to establish a niche as a well built, rustic yet "posh" young man. Further movies include ''Indra'' (2008), ''Arjun'' (2008), ''Navagraha'' (2008), ''Yodha'' (2009), ''Abhay'' (2009).In 2010, he acted as cop disguised as a rogue in ''Porki'', which was a remake of the 2009 Telugu film ''Pokiri''. His next movie was ''Shourya'' (2010). Then came ''Boss'' (2011) and ''Prince'' (2011). He then appeared in films such as ''Kitti'', ''Ninagoskara'', ''Neenandre Ishta'' and ''Daasa'', produced by Ramesh Yadav. He starred in Prem's directorial debut, the 2003 action film ''Kariya''. He played a budding musician in ''Laali Haadu'', a journalist in ''Lankesh Patrike'' and a blind poor man in ''Namma Preethiya Ramu''.In 2004, he starred in ''Kalasipalya'', directed by Om Prakash Rao and in P. N. Satya's ''Daasa''. In 2005, he acted in three more films ''Annavru'', ''Shashtri'' and ''Ayya''.He starred again in Anaji Nagaraj's ''Swamy'' (2005), ''Suntaragaali'' (2006), ''Dattha'' (2006), ''Bhoopathi'' (2007), ''Snehana Preethina'' (2007) and ''Anatharu'' (2008), where he starred with Upendra.In 2008, ''Gaja'' helped him to establish a niche as a well built, rustic yet "posh" young man. Further movies include ''Indra'' (2008), ''Arjun'' (2008), ''Navagraha'' (2008), ''Yodha'' (2009), ''Abhay'' (2009).In 2010, he acted as cop disguised as a rogue in ''Porki'', which was a remake of the 2009 Telugu film ''Pokiri''. His next movie was ''Shourya'' (2010). Then came ''Boss'' (2011) and ''Prince'' (2011). He then appeared in films such as ''Kitti'', ''Ninagoskara'', ''Neenandre Ishta'' and ''Daasa'', produced by Ramesh Yadav. He starred in Prem's directorial debut, the 2003 action film ''Kariya''. He played a budding musician in ''Laali Haadu'', a journalist in ''Lankesh Patrike'' and a blind poor man in ''Namma Preethiya Ramu''.In 2004, he starred in ''Kalasipalya'', directed by Om Prakash Rao and in P. N. Satya's ''Daasa''. In 2005, he acted in three more films ''Annavru'', ''Shashtri'' and ''Ayya''.He starred again in Anaji Nagaraj's ''Swamy'' (2005), ''Suntaragaali'' (2006), ''Dattha'' (2006), ''Bhoopathi'' (2007), ''Snehana Preethina'' (2007) and ''Anatharu'' (2008), where he starred with Upendra.In 2008, ''Gaja'' helped him to establish a niche as a well built, rustic yet "posh" young man. Further movies include ''Indra'' (2008), ''Arjun'' (2008), ''Navagraha'' (2008), ''Yodha'' (2009), ''Abhay'' (2009).In 2010, he acted as cop disguised as a rogue in ''Porki'', which was a remake of the 2009 Telugu film ''Pokiri''. His next movie was ''Shourya'' (2010). Then came ''Boss'' (2011) and ''Prince'' (2011).Darshan's next releases were ''Boss'' (2011) and ''Prince'' (2011). Next came the action drama ''Saarathi''. His 2012 release was ''Chingari''. Next, he played a role in the historical movie ''Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna'' and got his maiden Karnataka State Film Awards and Filmfare Award for best actor. In 2013, he had two releases, ''Bulbul'' and ''Brindavana''.His 2014 film ''Ambareesha'' received mixed responses, though it was commercially successful. In ''Mr. Airavata'', he played the role of a police officer. ''The Hindu'' wrote: "He sizzles on the screen in his tailor-made avatar as Mr. Airavata". In 2013, he had two releases, ''Bulbul'' and ''Brindavana''.His 2014 film ''Ambareesha'' received mixed responses, though it was commercially successful. In ''Mr. Airavata'', he played the role of a police officer. ''The Hindu'' wrote: "He sizzles on the screen in his tailor-made avatar as Mr. Airavata". In ''Viraat'', his first release of 2016, he played a businessman wanting to provide a solution to the issue of irregular power supply by taking up a thermal power project. ''The Indian Express'', in its review, wrote that despite the loopholes, Darshan "cements them". The reviewer added: "He is seen in his signature style of action, dialogue delivery and mannerism. This time the actor breezes through some dance steps". Darshan's next film ''Jaggu Dada'' saw him play a gangster, and received largely negative reviews from critics. Darshan's next film was Chakravarthy in 2017 based on Bangalore Underworld's true story, which gave a mixed response from the audience, but got recognition for the new look. In later 2017, his next movie Tarak was released. On 1 March 2019, his 51st movie Yajamana was released, becoming Darshan's biggest box office opener. Following the success of ''Yajamana'', the big-budget Indian mythological movie ''Kurukshetra'' was released on 9 August 2019. ''Kurukshetra'' was well received by critics. In the same year, on 12 December 2019, Darshan released another film, ''Odeya''. In June 2019, filming began on another Darshan film, ''Roberrt'', which is directed by Tharun Kishore Sudhir and released on 2021. In January 2023 Darshan released ''Kranti'' in which he plays a businessman who is called back by his school for 100 year celebration where he learn that the system is run by corrupt businessman and takes on the challenge to stop the closure of 100 schools and take down the corrupt businessman. The film received mixed reviews. ''Kranti'' theatrically released on 26 January 2023, coinciding with the Indian Republic Day holiday.

Early career

After graduating from Ninasam, Darshan worked as a projectionist before becoming an assistant cameraman to veteran cinematographer B. C. Gowrishankar. His first acting role came in S. Narayan's television soap. Narayan then offered him a supporting role in his 1997 film ''Mahabharatha''. Darshan subsequently featured in films such as ''Devara Maga'' (2000), ''Ellara Mane Dosenoo'' (2000), ''Bhoothayyana Makkalu'' (2000) and ''Mr. Harishchandra'' (2001), mostly in insignificant and supporting, often bit roles. This period also saw him play minor roles in other television soaps.

2001–2010

Darshan's major break in films came with ''Majestic'', directed by P. N. Satya and released in 2001, in which he played the role of Daasa, an innocent youth-turned-underworld don. He then appeared in films such as ''Kitti'', ''Ninagoskara'', ''Neenandre Ishta'' and ''Daasa'', produced by Ramesh Yadav. He starred in Prem's directorial debut, the 2003 action film ''Kariya''. He played a budding musician in ''Laali Haadu'', a journalist in ''Lankesh Patrike'' and a blind poor man in ''Namma Preethiya Ramu''.In 2004, he starred in ''Kalasipalya'', directed by Om Prakash Rao and in P. N. Satya's ''Daasa''. In 2005, he acted in three more films ''Annavru'', ''Shashtri'' and ''Ayya''.He starred again in Anaji Nagaraj's ''Swamy'' (2005), ''Suntaragaali'' (2006), ''Dattha'' (2006), ''Bhoopathi'' (2007), ''Snehana Preethina'' (2007) and ''Anatharu'' (2008), where he starred with Upendra.In 2008, ''Gaja'' helped him to establish a niche as a well built, rustic yet "posh" young man. Further movies include ''Indra'' (2008), ''Arjun'' (2008), ''Navagraha'' (2008), ''Yodha'' (2009), ''Abhay'' (2009).In 2010, he acted as cop disguised as a rogue in ''Porki'', which was a remake of the 2009 Telugu film ''Pokiri''. His next movie was ''Shourya'' (2010). Then came ''Boss'' (2011) and ''Prince'' (2011). He then appeared in films such as ''Kitti'', ''Ninagoskara'', ''Neenandre Ishta'' and ''Daasa'', produced by Ramesh Yadav. He starred in Prem's directorial debut, the 2003 action film ''Kariya''. He played a budding musician in ''Laali Haadu'', a journalist in ''Lankesh Patrike'' and a blind poor man in ''Namma Preethiya Ramu''.In 2004, he starred in ''Kalasipalya'', directed by Om Prakash Rao and in P. N. Satya's ''Daasa''. In 2005, he acted in three more films ''Annavru'', ''Shashtri'' and ''Ayya''.He starred again in Anaji Nagaraj's ''Swamy'' (2005), ''Suntaragaali'' (2006), ''Dattha'' (2006), ''Bhoopathi'' (2007), ''Snehana Preethina'' (2007) and ''Anatharu'' (2008), where he starred with Upendra.In 2008, ''Gaja'' helped him to establish a niche as a well built, rustic yet "posh" young man. Further movies include ''Indra'' (2008), ''Arjun'' (2008), ''Navagraha'' (2008), ''Yodha'' (2009), ''Abhay'' (2009).In 2010, he acted as cop disguised as a rogue in ''Porki'', which was a remake of the 2009 Telugu film ''Pokiri''. His next movie was ''Shourya'' (2010). Then came ''Boss'' (2011) and ''Prince'' (2011). He then appeared in films such as ''Kitti'', ''Ninagoskara'', ''Neenandre Ishta'' and ''Daasa'', produced by Ramesh Yadav. He starred in Prem's directorial debut, the 2003 action film ''Kariya''. He played a budding musician in ''Laali Haadu'', a journalist in ''Lankesh Patrike'' and a blind poor man in ''Namma Preethiya Ramu''.In 2004, he starred in ''Kalasipalya'', directed by Om Prakash Rao and in P. N. Satya's ''Daasa''. In 2005, he acted in three more films ''Annavru'', ''Shashtri'' and ''Ayya''.He starred again in Anaji Nagaraj's ''Swamy'' (2005), ''Suntaragaali'' (2006), ''Dattha'' (2006), ''Bhoopathi'' (2007), ''Snehana Preethina'' (2007) and ''Anatharu'' (2008), where he starred with Upendra.In 2008, ''Gaja'' helped him to establish a niche as a well built, rustic yet "posh" young man. Further movies include ''Indra'' (2008), ''Arjun'' (2008), ''Navagraha'' (2008), ''Yodha'' (2009), ''Abhay'' (2009).In 2010, he acted as cop disguised as a rogue in ''Porki'', which was a remake of the 2009 Telugu film ''Pokiri''. His next movie was ''Shourya'' (2010). Then came ''Boss'' (2011) and ''Prince'' (2011). He then appeared in films such as ''Kitti'', ''Ninagoskara'', ''Neenandre Ishta'' and ''Daasa'', produced by Ramesh Yadav. He starred in Prem's directorial debut, the 2003 action film ''Kariya''. He played a budding musician in ''Laali Haadu'', a journalist in ''Lankesh Patrike'' and a blind poor man in ''Namma Preethiya Ramu''.In 2004, he starred in ''Kalasipalya'', directed by Om Prakash Rao and in P. N. Satya's ''Daasa''. In 2005, he acted in three more films ''Annavru'', ''Shashtri'' and ''Ayya''.He starred again in Anaji Nagaraj's ''Swamy'' (2005), ''Suntaragaali'' (2006), ''Dattha'' (2006), ''Bhoopathi'' (2007), ''Snehana Preethina'' (2007) and ''Anatharu'' (2008), where he starred with Upendra.In 2008, ''Gaja'' helped him to establish a niche as a well built, rustic yet "posh" young man. Further movies include ''Indra'' (2008), ''Arjun'' (2008), ''Navagraha'' (2008), ''Yodha'' (2009), ''Abhay'' (2009).In 2010, he acted as cop disguised as a rogue in ''Porki'', which was a remake of the 2009 Telugu film ''Pokiri''. His next movie was ''Shourya'' (2010). Then came ''Boss'' (2011) and ''Prince'' (2011). He then appeared in films such as ''Kitti'', ''Ninagoskara'', ''Neenandre Ishta'' and ''Daasa'', produced by Ramesh Yadav. He starred in Prem's directorial debut, the 2003 action film ''Kariya''. He played a budding musician in ''Laali Haadu'', a journalist in ''Lankesh Patrike'' and a blind poor man in ''Namma Preethiya Ramu''.In 2004, he starred in ''Kalasipalya'', directed by Om Prakash Rao and in P. N. Satya's ''Daasa''. In 2005, he acted in three more films ''Annavru'', ''Shashtri'' and ''Ayya''.He starred again in Anaji Nagaraj's ''Swamy'' (2005), ''Suntaragaali'' (2006), ''Dattha'' (2006), ''Bhoopathi'' (2007), ''Snehana Preethina'' (2007) and ''Anatharu'' (2008), where he starred with Upendra.In 2008, ''Gaja'' helped him to establish a niche as a well built, rustic yet "posh" young man. Further movies include ''Indra'' (2008), ''Arjun'' (2008), ''Navagraha'' (2008), ''Yodha'' (2009), ''Abhay'' (2009).In 2010, he acted as cop disguised as a rogue in ''Porki'', which was a remake of the 2009 Telugu film ''Pokiri''. His next movie was ''Shourya'' (2010). Then came ''Boss'' (2011) and ''Prince'' (2011).

2010–present

Darshan's next releases were ''Boss'' (2011) and ''Prince'' (2011). Next came the action drama ''Saarathi''. His 2012 release was ''Chingari''. Next, he played a role in the historical movie ''Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna'' and got his maiden Karnataka State Film Awards and Filmfare Award for best actor. In 2013, he had two releases, ''Bulbul'' and ''Brindavana''.His 2014 film ''Ambareesha'' received mixed responses, though it was commercially successful. In ''Mr. Airavata'', he played the role of a police officer. ''The Hindu'' wrote: "He sizzles on the screen in his tailor-made avatar as Mr. Airavata". In 2013, he had two releases, ''Bulbul'' and ''Brindavana''.His 2014 film ''Ambareesha'' received mixed responses, though it was commercially successful. In ''Mr. Airavata'', he played the role of a police officer. ''The Hindu'' wrote: "He sizzles on the screen in his tailor-made avatar as Mr. Airavata". In ''Viraat'', his first release of 2016, he played a businessman wanting to provide a solution to the issue of irregular power supply by taking up a thermal power project. ''The Indian Express'', in its review, wrote that despite the loopholes, Darshan "cements them". The reviewer added: "He is seen in his signature style of action, dialogue delivery and mannerism. This time the actor breezes through some dance steps". Darshan's next film ''Jaggu Dada'' saw him play a gangster, and received largely negative reviews from critics. Darshan's next film was Chakravarthy in 2017 based on Bangalore Underworld's true story, which gave a mixed response from the audience, but got recognition for the new look. In later 2017, his next movie Tarak was released. On 1 March 2019, his 51st movie Yajamana was released, becoming Darshan's biggest box office opener. Following the success of ''Yajamana'', the big-budget Indian mythological movie ''Kurukshetra'' was released on 9 August 2019. ''Kurukshetra'' was well received by critics. In the same year, on 12 December 2019, Darshan released another film, ''Odeya''. In June 2019, filming began on another Darshan film, ''Roberrt'', which is directed by Tharun Kishore Sudhir and released on 2021. In January 2023 Darshan released ''Kranti'' in which he plays a businessman who is called back by his school for 100 year celebration where he learn that the system is run by corrupt businessman and takes on the challenge to stop the closure of 100 schools and take down the corrupt businessman. The film received mixed reviews. ''Kranti'' theatrically released on 26 January 2023, coinciding with the Indian Republic Day holiday.

Personal life

Darshan married his relative Vijayalakshmi, who was then a student in Chemical engineering, in 2003 at Dharmasthala Temple. They have a son, Vineesh. Darshan runs his own mini zoo in the far east of Mysuru, near Malavalli. Darshan's other passions are cars and bikes.