Darshan's troubled past: When Kannada superstar arrested for assaulting his wife
This is not the first time Darshan has faced serious criminal charges. In 2011, he was arrested after his wife, Vijayalakshmi, accused him of assault.
Darshan with his wife Vijayalakshmi.
Kannada superstar Darshan has been detained by Bengaluru police after being implicated by a suspect in a murder investigation. The actor is accused of ordering the torture and murder of Renuka Swamy for allegedly harassing his friend Pavithra Gowda online.
This is not the first time Darshan has faced serious criminal charges. In 2011, he was arrested after his wife, Vijayalakshmi, accused him of assault. Darshan married Vijayalakshmi in 2003, before his big break in Kannada movies.
Darshan, the son of the late actor Thoogudeepa Srinivas, worked behind the scenes for years before making his big-screen debut as a lead actor in the 2001 gangster movie Majestic. His career took off following the commercial success of that movie.
Darshan cemented his position in the Kannada film industry with movies like Kariya, Lankesh Patrike, Daasa, and Porki.
In 2011, Darshan's public image took a hit after Vijayalakshmi accused him of domestic violence. According to her complaint, Darshan held her and their then-three-year-old son hostage for a few hours in his SUV, during which he assaulted and tortured her.
Vijayalakshmi alleged that Darshan tore her ears, struck her repeatedly, burned her with cigarettes, and even threatened to strangle their son. Vijayalakshmi reportedly suffered bruises all over her body and required stitches and intensive care treatment to recover from her wounds.
Following Vijayalakshmi's complaint, Darshan was arrested on the charters of attempted murder and criminal intimidation in September 2011, leading to widespread protests from his loyal fans. He was later sentenced to 14 days of judicial custody. It is said that senior members of the Kannada film fraternity, such as the late movie icon Ambareesh, convinced Vijayalakshmi to withdraw her complaint.
After being released on bail, Darshan resolved the issues with Vijayalakshmi. However, marital problems persisted, and Vijayalakshmi sought police intervention again in 2016.
Despite his personal issues making headlines, Darshan's popularity with his core fan base remained intact. His previous movie, Kaatera, became one of the biggest hits in the history of Kannada cinema, raking in more than Rs 100 crore in record time.
Updated: June 11, 2024 01:20 PM IST
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