The Devil: Tentative release date of Challenging Star Darshan’s film revealed?
The Devil: Director Prakash Veer and his team are going ahead with the release of The Devil in Darshan’s absence, with the actor’s support
Last Updated: 10.54 PM, Aug 20, 2025
14 years after the release of Saarathi, which came out when actor Darshan Thoogudeepa was in judicial custody in a case of domestic abuse against his wife Vijayalakshmi, and went on to become massive hit, the Challenging Star is in jail yet again and has a film up for release. This time around, the alleged charge is far more grievous and the actor will likely remain in jail longer, so the team behind the film, The Devil, is going ahead with release plans in his absence.
The Devil for Rajyotsava or Christmas?
Directed by Tarak maker Prakash Veer, The Devil is, according to reports set to release for Kannada Rajyotsava, with October 31, 2025 mooted as the date that’s being fixed. The team is yet to officially announce this though and there are other reports that it may be in theatres only in December. The film was initially meant to be a Christmas 2024 release, but then Darshan was arrested in June as an accused in the Renukaswamy murder case. He spent nearly 5 months in jail before finally being granted bail in late October.
It was only in February this year that Darshan resumed shooting The Devil and is said to have disregarded medical opinion to rest and attend to a niggling back issue, in order to wrap up the film. He is said to have canned action and song sequences while battling back pain and was set to get the medical aid he needed when he was arrested again following cancellation of his bail by the Supreme Court.
In the immediate aftermath, it was thought that the release of The Devil would be postponed until after Darshan is released from jail again, which would not be before the end of the trial in the Renukaswamy murder case. This could take a minimum of 6 months at least, it’s been said, a time that the team cannot afford to wait around, considering that there have already been financial losses owing to his initial incarceration.
The expectation is that The Devil will be a major success just like Saarathi was back in the day, although Prakash’s earlier film Tarak did not meet expectations.
FAQs
Q. Why was Darshan arrested?
A. Darshan was arrested on June 11, 2024 in connection with the Renukaswamy murder case. 35-year-old Renukaswamy was tortured to death for allegedly sending lewd messages to Darshan's alleged partner of many years, Pavitra Gowda and at his behest, the former was brought to Bengaluru, where he was beaten up and later succumbed to his injuries. Pavitra is accused number 1, while Darshan is accused number 2.
Q. When was Darshan given bail?
A. Darshan was granted interim medical bail in late November claiming he needed surgical intervention for a bad back issue. He was then granted regular bail by the High Court in mid-December, the circumstances of which have been questioned by the Supreme Court, which, on August 14, 2025, 8 months later, cancelled his bail.