1. Majestic – 2002

Majestic was directed by P. N. Satya and co-starred Rekha, Jai Jagadish, and Harish Roy. It was the debut film of Darshan in a lead role and turned out to be a major success. The film tells the story of an orphan who becomes a gangster in the city. It highlights how society treats negative characters and does not allow a criminal to return to a normal life. The immaturity of youth and the vicious circle of crime and goons are portrayed effectively, making Majestic a landmark film in Darshan’s career.

2. Dhruva – 2002

Dhruva was directed by M. S. Ramesh and co-starred Sherin, Om Puri, and Avinash. The film showcased Darshan in a strong action-oriented role and contributed to his growing popularity as a mass hero in Kannada cinema.

3. Kariya – 2003

Kariya was directed by Prem and co-starred Abinayasri. The film was a blockbuster hit of the year and celebrated a 675-day run in Karnataka, which was rare at the time. It tells the story of a young gangster who falls in love with a dancer. This was the directorial debut of Prem. The film created controversy due to the song lyric “Nee nanage sigadiddare acid hakuve”, following which women’s organizations demanded a ban. Despite the controversy, Kariya became one of Darshan’s career-defining films.

4. Laali Haadu – 2003

Laali Haadu was directed by H. Vasu and co-starred Abhirami, Umashree, and Ruthika. The film narrates the story of a village singer who comes to the city to build a career in music. A woman tries to marry him for money, leading to heartbreak and depression. The rest of the story focuses on how the heroine helps him regain faith in life.

5. Daasa – 2003

Daasa was directed by P. N. Satya and co-starred Amrutha and Avinash. The film tells the story of a college student who deeply loves his mother. Coming from a poor background, his mother works at a minister’s house. When the Chief Minister is murdered, the hero is falsely accused due to allegations against his mother. The story revolves around injustice and revenge.

6. Kalasipalya – 2004

Kalasipalya was directed by Om Prakash Rao and co-starred Rakshita, Mohan Raj, Raju Ananthaswamy, and Avinash. The film is inspired by the Tamil blockbuster Dhool. It narrates the story of a young man who repeatedly fails his matriculation exams and lives in the Kalasipalya area of Bangalore. His struggle, family tragedy, and eventual revenge form the core of the film.

7. Bhagawan – 2004

Bhagawan was directed by H. Vasu and co-starred Daisy Bopanna, Bhavana, and Sai Kumar. The film further strengthened Darshan’s image as an action star in the Kannada film industry.

8. Ayya – 2005

Ayya was directed by Om Prakash Rao and co-starred Rakshita, Avinash, and Srinagar Kitty. The film was a blockbuster hit and completed a 100-day run at the box office. It is a remake of the Tamil blockbuster Saamy. Darshan played a fearless police officer who uses both legal and illegal methods to bring justice.

9. Gaja – 2008

Gaja was directed by K. Madesha and co-starred Navya Nair, Devaraj, Pradeep Rawat, Subbaraju, and Komal Kumar. The film is a remake of the Telugu hit Bhadra. It tells the story of friendship, love, and family rivalry, with Darshan portraying a strong emotional and action-packed role.

10. Saarathi – 2011

Saarathi was directed by Dinakar Thoogudeep and co-starred Deepa Sannidhi, Sharath Kumar, Rangayana Raghu, and Sharath Lohitashwa. The story is inspired by the Hollywood film The Lion King. It was a huge blockbuster, celebrating 50 days in 93 centres and 100 days in 16 centres across Karnataka.

11. Sangolli Rayanna – 2012

Sangolli Rayanna was directed by Naganna and co-starred Jayaprada, Shashi Kumar, and Nikita Thukral. The film became an all-time blockbuster in Kannada cinema. It depicts the life of freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna, the army chief of Kittur Rani Chennamma, who fought against British rule and was executed in 1831.

12. Bulbul – 2013

Bulbul was directed by M. D. Shridhar and co-starred Ambarish, Rachita Ram, Tennis Krishna, and Sadhu Kokila. Made on a budget of around ₹12 crores, the film earned approximately ₹50 crores at the box office. It celebrated 100 days in 130 centres across Karnataka. The film is a remake of the Telugu hit Darling and focuses on romance, friendship, and family emotions.

Recent Hit Movies of Darshan Thoogudeep

13. Yajamana – 2019

Yajamana was directed by P. V. K. Ravi Shankar and co-starred Rashmika Mandanna, Devaraj, and Dhananjaya. The film was a major commercial success and marked Darshan’s strong comeback after a brief gap. It tells the story of a village-based young man who stands up against powerful enemies to protect his people. Darshan’s performance, especially in action and emotional scenes, was widely appreciated. The film ran successfully across Karnataka and reaffirmed his mass appeal.

14. Roberrt – 2021

Roberrt was directed by Tarun Sudhir and co-starred Asha Bhat, Jagapathi Babu, and Devaraj. The film released in multiple languages including Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi. Roberrt became one of the highest-grossing Kannada films of 2021. Darshan played a dual-shaded role combining family sentiment with intense action sequences. The film received a strong opening and performed well at the box office despite pandemic-related challenges.

15. Kranti – 2023

Kranti was directed by V. Harikrishna and co-starred Rachita Ram. The film focused on the importance of education and social responsibility. Released as a festive film, Kranti opened to strong collections and completed a successful theatrical run. Darshan’s role as a socially conscious businessman connected well with family audiences, and the film performed particularly well in mass centres.

16. Kaatera – 2023

Kaatera was directed by Tarun Sudhir and co-starred Aradhana Ram. The film was set against a rural backdrop and addressed issues related to farmers and land rights. Kaatera emerged as a blockbuster and became one of the highest-grossing Kannada films of 2023. Darshan’s intense performance and the film’s strong emotional content received positive response from both audiences and critics, further strengthening his position as a leading star.

17. Upcoming and Announced Projects

Darshan Thoogudeep has several projects announced and in various stages of development. Despite recent controversies, his films continue to generate strong interest among fans and trade circles. Official updates regarding future releases are awaited, and his upcoming films are expected to draw significant attention at the box office.