'I HAVE NOT BEEN PAID!' Darshan

'I HAVE NOT BEEN PAID!'

Rubbishing claims that he's charged 3 crore for a movie, Challenging Star Darshan says he is yet to receive a good part of his payment from several producers

Contributed by Madhu Daithota

He's known to be one among the most bankable stars in the industry. And with the mega success of his recent film Sarathee, the Sandalwood grapevine is abuzz with news that Challenging Star Darshan has hiked his remuneration to 3 crore. "Nobody has paid me that kind of money and I haven't demanded it. If I have to hike my price for every hit I deliver, it means I have to reduce it whenever a film flops. So this talk of me getting paid 3 crore is hogwash. I'm yet to receive the balance amount of my previous films from some producers," says Darshan.
The actor feels he's been a bit too easygoing with his producers. "I dub for my films even if I haven't received the balance amount, which is contrary to the industry norm. Most filmmakers promise to pay the balance if the movie does well. But even after the movies become hits, none of these producers have come forward to pay what's due to me. I don't hold it against them because I know the cost of production these days is exorbitant. By the time producers wrap up a project, their funds usually run dry," says Darshan.
The actor also says that he doesn't usually work with big banners. "Big producers are only interested in earning money; nobody else benefits from that. But what about the average ones? They also need to survive. Which is why I prefer working with this category of filmmaker. If I work with average producers, it will help them," says Darshan.
So what made him take up a mega project like Sangolli Rayanna, which, at a staggering 30 crore, is reportedly the costliest Kannada film made till date? "That's because the producer, Anand B Appugol, is a genuine fan of a historical personality like Sangolli Rayanna and even worships the freedom fighter's idol at home. I owe him a lot because, for the first time, I've been motivated to do homework for a film — I read the life history of Sangolli Rayanna. I didn't do this film because of its mega budget, but because you don't get to play a freedom fighter every day," explains Darshan.
Talk then veers to another hot topic — Sudeep and Darshan, who are usually not seen in each other's company, were spotted bonding big-time at the audio release of Chingari. Was it a way of proving to fans that the two have buried the hatchet? "There were never any differences between Sudeep and I. We've never fought and have always wished each other well," says Darshan.
As a parting shot Darshan adds, "I'm basking in a compliment my wife gave me — she says I look a lot younger after I've achieved my new, lean look."

MONEY MATTERS: Darshan