Dubai, Dec 8, 2011
Controversial Sandalwood star Darshan Thoogudeep, who arrived in Dubai to partake in Karnataka Sangha Dubai Rajyotsava event to be held on Friday, December 9, looks as confident as ever. The recent 'domestic violence' incident followed by his arrest has not shattered him, instead, according to him, it has exposed the people he trusted.
In a candid interview to Daijiworld.com editor-in-chief Walter Nandalike, Darshan spoke about the sensational episode which created news not only around the nation, but also in media like the BBC and CNN worldwide. His wife Vijayalaxmi and mother Thoogudeep were also present.
This is the first exclusive interview given by Darshan to any media after his release from prison.
Excerpts:
Q: How has life been after the controversial 'domestic violence' episode?
A: Life is quite normal, nothing has changed much. In fact, the episode has made me stronger, and brought me more fans...media was carrying extensive coverage of my personal life, some channels followed it 24 hours. I think, my fans took the negative publicity in a positive way. I have not lost my fans, I am much stronger now.
Q: Can you substantiate your claim?
A: Just have a look at YouTube, some TV channel news clips have been viewed by lacs of people...
Q: Even 'Nityananda Swamy Video' was a big hit on YouTube.You can't claim that your fan base has increased on that basis...
A; No, these are two different issues. Not only YouTube, after my release I started promotion of my new movie 'Sarathi' through road shows, and the response I got was amazing. In Tumkur, when I reached at 12.45 am, more than a lac people were waiting to see me. What more evidence do you need? Also, 'Sarathi' was released when I was in jail, still the shows ran full-house around the state. To give you more proof of my popularity, the movie has run successfully for 50 days in 100 centres which is an all-time record in Kannada, even 'Mungaru Male' could not achieve that. Moreover, in all my previous movies, female presence in theaters was less than 30%, but for this movie 70% attendance was by ladies. If people believed that I tortured my wife and child, women would not have turned up. Also, fan following in social networking sites like Facebook increased after my release. I am sure my fans believe me, and they know I am innocent..
Q: But your wife Vijayalaxmi herself registered a complaint of domestic violence, torturing, abuse, etc.
A: Yes, I agree. She is here in front of you, you can ask her. TV channels reported that I hit my kid, abused my wife with cigarettes etc. Just show me, is there is any evidence or mark on her body of burning cigarettes? It was all a conspiracy. It was a well-planned conspiracy.
Q: Media say you are a reformed person after this incident...is it so?
A: No, I am the same person. There were some problems between us husband and wife, but tell me who does not? I can challenge you that 95% of married couples have problems in marital life! Just because I am a star, people poke into my personal life and make sensational stories. Everyone makes mistakes, and learns from them. Lots of people criticised me, abused me... I want to ask them, have they never made any mistake in their lives? Let people who have never made mistakes point fingers at me. I will honour their advice.
Q: Then what was the need for Vijayalaxmi to register a complaint against you?
A: She never thought this issue would get global attention. She was ill advised, and never told about the media impact. She thought just police complaint would solve the problem. But when she realised the impact of the media, she learnt a lesson and compromised. We live with love and peace. We are happy. I am sorry for those who want to gossip about my relation with Nikita, my heroine in a few movies. Unfortunately even Kannada film industry blamed her and banned her unjustly, I feel sorry for her. But I have no such relationship with her. It was only a professional relationship. We husband and wife indeed had some problems between us, but now everything has been sorted out.
Q: Celebrities going to jail has become a trend in Karnataka now - Yeddyurappa, Janardhana Reddy, Katta, you....
A: Haaha...it's not like that. When a public figure goes to jail, it becomes news, thats it. Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt and some other celebrities too went to jail, and for longer periods than me. I do not want to compare myself to them. But everyone has personal life...
Q: But Darshan, fans follow you and consider you as role model, specially youngsters....
A: I don't fully agree with that, time has changed now. Once upon a time, film celebrities were like Gods and people used to follow them. But now, they look at us on screen and forget when they come out of the theatre. We entertain them, they enjoy it. They admire our talent. I do not agree that today's youngsters follow actors!
Q: Tell me, how was your life inside the jail for 17 days?
A: Never felt like I was in jail. You get everything there. Only restriction was, mobile phone and internet were not allowed. Otherwise, everything is fine. I spent time watching TV, sometimes my own news! Also, talking to former minister Katta, his son, discussing lots of political and other issues etc... after all I was only accused, not convicted. In all, about 4500 people were in the jail, and only 1500 among them were convicted. Rest were only accused.
Q: So any plans to join politics?
A: Oh, no never! I am fed up with internal politics in our own film industry. I have no plans as of now to join any political party. Now I am identified as an individual, based on my performance. But if I join politics, I will lose my section of fan base, and I will be identified as a party-based individual.
Q: The entire film industry showed great support to you when you were behind the bars...
A: You can't say 'entire', yes there were some of my friends who firmly stood by me, they knew me so closely. It happens, professional rivalry is always there. Some people want only hero's son to become hero, and villain's son to become villain! As you know I am the son of Thoogudeep Srinivas, who was a famous villain in Kannada film industry.
Q: Once back from jail, you visited a lot of temples. Are you deeply religious?
A: No I am not a very religious person. But I wanted some break, I wanted some peace. So I went to holy places like Tirupati, Shirdi, Vaishnovi temple, Subramanya, and others along with my family.
Q: Tell us about your upcoming movies.
A: There are two movies in the finishing stage and shooting is completely over. One will release this month and the other next month. But I am concentrating on my new movie 'Sangolli Rayanna', with a budget of over Rs 35 crore, perhaps one of the highest in Kannada film history.
Q: So producers have no hesitation in putting money on you, despite these incidents..
A: Not at all. That shows the confidence they have on me. Yes, I was a little worried when 'Sarathi' was released. I was tense, because I wanted to see people's reaction. Just imagine, your movie is released when you are in jail! I could not sleep that night thinking about my future, but when I heard that the first few days were all houseful shows all over the state, I was relieved. Now it's more than 75 days that 'Sarathi' is running pretty comfortably.
Q: Are you nervous about facing Dubai audience on Friday?
A: If I was worried, I would not have come here in the first place. I have been here before, people are very nice, more matured. I am looking forward to participate in the Rajyotsava event on Friday.