Despite Jail Controversy Darshan Film Opens Good

Darshan's latest action drama, The Devil, made a solid debut at the box office, raking in Rs 10 crore net in India on its opening day, December 11, 2025. Despite the actor's ongoing legal troubles related to the Renukaswamy murder case, fan support remained strong, pushing the film to an impressive 63.75% occupancy rate. 

The momentum grew throughout the day, morning shows started at 60.44%, dipped slightly to 51.74% in the afternoon, picked up to 63.47% in the evening, and peaked at 79.34% late night. This double digit opening outshines Darshan's 2023 film Kranti (Rs 9.8 crore) and recent Kannada releases like Mahavatar Narsimha (Rs 2.29 crore) and Su From So (Rs 78 lakh). 

However, it trails behind Kaatera (2023, Rs 11 crore) and the year's biggest opener, Kantara Chapter 1 (Rs 61.85 crore). The Devil now claims the second spot among 2025's top Kannada openers. With no major Kannada releases competing soon, except Akhanda 2, the film could maintain its momentum.

The Devil, directed by Prakash under Vaishno Studios and Jai Mata Combines, features Darshan in a dual role alongside Mahesh Manjrekar, Achyuth Kumar, Sharmiela Mandre, and Rachana Rai. The action-packed narrative blends power, vengeance, and love, drawing mixed reviews but praise for Darshan's performance. Given the buzz, The Devil might have a promising run, especially with its strong start in Karnataka.