Prakash Veer: Darshan was excited about The Devil because…

Director Prakash says that he began developing The Devil after Darshan asked him to make films more frequently. It still took him 7 years, but the film is now coming to theatres in less than a week

Darshan in The Devil

Kannada filmmaker Prakash was quite prolific in the early years of his career, making a film a year, until 2009. It then took him 6 years to return with Vinay Rajkumar’s debut film, after which he almost immediately collaborated with Darshan on Tarak. This was a film that the Challenging Star wanted Prakash to make for him as a classy family drama, which, eventually, did not appeal much to his die-hard fans.

Prakash Veer on The Devil: Darshan was keen to experiment

After Tarak, Darshan was keen that Prakash does not retreat into his shell and stay away from films and asked him if there was any other subject that they could work on. When the filmmaker told him an idea that he had, Darshan thought about it for a few minutes and almost immediately asked him to begin working on the script. “He was very excited about the fact that the protagonist’s role had a negative shade, which he felt has an element of experimentation and yet would be within the parameters of a mass entertainer,” Prakash told Zee Kannada.

Also read: The Devil: Darshan to be seen in more than 1 role? Director clarifies…

Amid Darshan’s other acting commitments, it eventually took Prakash 6 years to go on floors with the film, a making that was interrupted by the actor’s incarceration in the Renukaswamy case. “We officially announced the project for his next birthday, but then the initial delay was because of the pandemic and later on due to my father’s ill health. Eventually, we began working on the film n 2024,” explained the filmmaker.

Also read: The Devil trailer: Darshan goes for style and substance in action-packed mass entertainer

When he designed the character, Prakash wanted the character’s madness to reflect in his styling as well, and the costumes and accessories that Darshan has sported in the songs and the trailer have become quite the talking point. “The character is larger-than-life and that had to come across by just taking a look at him,” he added.

The Devil FAQs

Q. What was Darshan Thoogudeepa's last release?

A. Darshan Thoogudeepa was last seen onscreen in 2023's Kaatera , which is available on Z5 (via OTTplay Premium also).

Q. What is Darshan's next film?

A. Darshan's next is The Devil, which has him reuniting with Tarak maker Prakash Veer. The film had been announced as a December 12, 2025 release, but has now been advanced by a day. The film is being released in the actor's absence, as he is currently in jail in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case.

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