Dharma Keerthiraj: ‘As a person, Darshan sir never changed, but over time he began to…’

As a second-generation actor, Dharma Keerthiraj has known Challenging Star Darshan since childhood. In fact, Dharma’s film debut came in Navagraha, the Dinakar Thoogudeepa directed Reservoir Dogs adaptation, which had had Darshan in the lead. They’ve been close since then, which is also why Dharma finds it hard to wrap his head around the superstar’s recent legal troubles.

On the Just Curious podcast with Rapid Rashmi, Dharma said that he’s always known Darshan to be the most helpful person, always ready to do the needful when someone comes knocking at his door. That, he says, is something that has not changed. “As a person, Darshan sir never changed, but what has happened is that over time, he began to react to certain situations. Normally, he is the most chilled out person, who minds his own business and restricts himself to a close circle of friends and well-wishers, his farm, cars. Whatever has happened (referring to the Renukaswamy case), was unexpected for him too. It is not easy to spend time in Parappana Agrahara,” said Dharma.

The actor adds that Darshan’s had issues with his back for a while, which used to crop up even while riding his horses, or during action blocks in his films, but the Ballary jail stint aggravated it further. Since his bail in the Renukaswamy murder case, Darshan has sequestered himself with family only, says Dharma, adding that the Challenging Star spends his time between home and hospital, given that he is in treatment for acute back pain. “I’ve been in touch with Dinakar sir, but Darshan sir has requested that no one should visit him just yet. It will take him time to come to terms with what happened and come out of it,” said Dharma.

Meanwhile, Dharma, who was in the Bigg Boss Kannada house most recently, says that he’s still looking for that big break in the industry. Although he had a hit song in Navagraha, his follow-up work as a leading man did not resonate with audiences. “I am yet to have a big hit, but I have seen average success and failures too. I have been fortunate that despite this graph, producers have been routinely giving me work and I am hopeful of turning things around shortly,” he said.