Tomorrow is Darshan’s birthday, and like every year, the actor will celebrate the occasion with fans who gather in thousands in front of his house in Rajarajeshwari Nagar.
His hardcore fans, who call Darshan a challenging star, boss and box office sultan, say the day is like a family celebration for them. While at least 300 hoardings will be erected by Tuesday morning in the vicinity of the actor’s house, a 39-kg cake is getting ready for his birthday.
Apparently, celebrations have already begun in various parts of Karnataka, with Darshan Fans Association at Hassan, Nelamangala, Tumakuru, Tiptur and few other places organising small-scale celebrations at orphanages.
Twenty-three registered fan assocations from across different districts fall under Akhila Karnataka Darshan Thoogudeepa Abhimanigala Sangha. But there are more than 2,000 unregistered fan associations says Puneeth, a member of D Company Fans Association.
“We are unable to keep count of all the fan clubs because they consist of one, 10 or 100 members who come together and it runs up to thousands,” he says.
This year, it’s said, at least 50,000 people are expected at his place on his birthday, and everybody will be taken care of. Akhila Karnataka Darshan Thooogudeepa Abhimanigala Sangha is arranging breakfast, lunch and dinner for everybody who comes from various parts of Karnataka to wish the ‘boss’.
Social Welfare
According to one of Darshan’s fans, Tuesday will be a day for social welfare activities. This time, the association is planning to fund an organisation working for the welfare of HIV-affected patients.
“People who know the actor well have understood what Darshan likes and dislikes. So some fan clubs donate money to the needy, arrange festive lunches for them and give stationery to school children instead of spending on hoardings. He requests that we don’t spend money on milk to pour on the cutouts or on crackers,” says Madhu, a fan of Darshan.
Puneeth, an ardent fan for the past nine years, told City Express, why he considers the actor a superstar. “People who see him from afar know him as just an actor. But for someone who is close to him, he has been like one among us,” he says.
Eight years ago, like his fellow fans, Puneeth had gone to see Darshan at his farmhouse. “He was so humble that he sat with my friends and me, and had lunch. We were strangers and he treated us so well. His modesty has earned him a lot of fans,” he says.