The Devil Day 1 box office: Makers claim blockbuster Rs 13.8 cr opening
There is no denying that Challenging Star Darshan has a massive fan following, so it was a given that The Devil would get a commensurate start at the box office. But will it sustain?
Last Updated: 10.52 PM, Dec 12, 2025
Darshan Thoogudeepa’s The Devil released in theatres in his absence on December 11. Advance bookings for the 6.30 am FDFS at single screen theatres had been sold out across Karnataka; that as the level of craze that Darshan fans had drummed up. They had, after all, vowed to make the film release a massive celebration.
The Devil benefits from hiked ticket prices
The film was released with hiked ticket rates, with single-screens charging between Rs 300-Rs 900, while at multiplexes that went up to Rs 1,200 at maximum. With these rates, The Devil is said to have amassed a Day 1 gross collection of Rs 13.8 cr, according to official sources. Independent tracker sacnilk has pegged this slightly lower at Rs 11.75 cr, which is still a great start for a film that has released in Kannada only.
Also read: The Devil movie review: Darshan vs Darshan in outdated snooze-fest tale of power and love
The Devil, though, has opened to mixed reviews, with critics panning its outdated story and problematic narrative, including rape, murder and objectification of women. The question that then arises is if this initial momentum can be maintained in the days to come. Industry experts reckon that given that the highlight of Darshan’s film is that one of the characters that he plays is an evil and violent one, family audiences are unlikely to queue up.
According to sources, The Devil’s budget blew up to close to Rs 60 cr, largely due to the delay in production caused by Darshan’s legal troubles and that the entire film had to be shot on specially erected sets and included foreign schedules. The film was in production when Darshan was arrested in June 2024. Although he was released on bail at the end of October, he resumed shooting only in March 2025. The team then wrapped up the film as soon as possible, within days of which, the Supreme Court cancelled the actor’s bail.
Darshan has been back in jail since August this year in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case, the trial of which is set to begin next week. The actor is accused no. 2 in the case in which a 35-year-old fan was tortured to death for allegedly sending lewd messages and images to Darshan’s lady friend.
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 new film?
A. Darshan's new film is The Devil, which has him reuniting with Tarak maker Prakash Veer. The film had been announced as a December 12, 2025 release, but was then advanced by a day. The film has released in the actor's absence, as he is currently in jail in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case.
Q. List the cast of The Devil
A. The Devil is led by Darshan Thoogudeepa, who is paired with Rachana Rai. The film also stars Mahesh Manjrekar, Achyuth Kumar, Vinay Gowda, Chandu B Gowda, among many others.