Director Prakash Veer
| Photo Credit: Ravichandran N
“It’s a good space to be in,” says filmmaker Prakash Veer, visibly relieved after the first week of his much-anticipated Kannada action-thriller, The Devil. The film stars superstar Darshan, currently in prison for the alleged murder of Chitradurga resident, Renukaswamy. Shooting with no certainty of the lead actor’s availability was an unprecedented situation for Prakash.
“The entire process of making The Devil was challenging. We stopped in between for obvious reasons and resumed when Darshan was back (out on bail). It helped that he stood by his commitment and ensured the movie was completed. We even faced censorship issues. We got the censor certificate less than 24 hours before the release. So, after overcoming so many hurdles, I am relieved that the movie is out,” he explains.
On June 11, 2024, when Darshan was arrested in Mysuru in connection with the murder, the release of The Devil seemed uncertain. “When I heard the news, I was shooting, and I went totally blank. I felt my film had hit a dead end.
My only concern was the music company, Saregama, that had acquired our rights. We had received an advance from them. I called Anand from Saregama and told him that I am ready to return the money. I wasn’t clear about the movie’s future. But I am glad they stayed patient and promised to stand by us. After that, I cut myself off from the noise outside and spent time with my family,” he recollected.
Darshan in ‘The Devil’.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
When Darshan’s bail was cancelled in August 2025, leading to his re-arrest, Prakash was in a dilemma again. “Darshan gave me confidence. He asked me to completely focus on releasing the movie on the scheduled date. He had immense faith in his fans,” adds Prakash.
The massive fan base was loyal to Darshan. The Devil ran to packed houses in the first four days, reiterating the box office pull of the actor. Despite his dwindling reputation, Darshan has enjoyed the fortune of a large fan base. “It’s God’s blessing,” says Prakash about the fan following of the actor.
Darshan plays a dual role in the movie. While one character, Krishna, is a budding actor with a kind heart, the other one is a rich brat. Calling himself “The Devil”, he is the son of a politician, regularly involved in criminal activities. Does the wicked character go against the taste of the family audience, who love watching less crime and action and more wholesome entertainers?
Prakash denies the theory. “People of all age groups are thronging to theatres. They are finding the movie engaging. For instance, Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animalfaced immense negativity. Yet, it was a big blockbuster because the filmmaking had conviction. You need to see the film as a form of art. I have narrated The Devil as a story. I didn’t try to preach,” he says.
Darshan’s case has put the spotlight on the age-old debate. Should an artiste’s personal life be separated from their professional work? “Yes. People want to get their ticket money’s worth, and the film is giving that. Those who are delving into the actor’s personal life want to hamper the product,” says the director.
Prakash also slams online trolls, saying that orchestrated negativity has a huge impact on the movie business. “Reviews that aren’t constructive affect a lot of people whose bread and butter is dependent on films. In a worst-case scenario, a producer can find other means of income. But what about the person who earns his daily wage on the sets of a movie? He will go unemployed if a producer decides to stop making films,” he concludes.
Published – December 19, 2025 10:16 am IST
