From the victim to the alleged perpetrators of a crime, there were always “D Boss” fans

Local people and his fans had gathered when actor Darshan, accused in a murder case, was brought to the crime scene for investigation in Bengaluru on Wednesday. | Photo credit: PTI

“We have seen Darshan both on-screen and off-screen. It's an open book. If he had made a mistake, he would have surrendered… We will not stop supporting him in such difficult times,” says Shyam Gaja, an ardent fan of Kannada actor Darshan. “He is like a family member to us, almost like a god.”

These sentiments characterize Darshan's die-hard fans, who adore their 'Challenging Star' and 'D Boss', even as he faces the grave charge of murdering, ironically enough, one of his own fans. The victim, Renukaswamy, who was allegedly beaten to death by Darshan and his associates, was also one of his loyal fans. He was reportedly worried about the “trouble” that Pavithra Gowda, one of the co-accused in the case, might cause in Darshan's married life, leading him to harass her on social media. Raghavendra, accused of kidnapping Renukaswamy in Chitradurga, headed the actor's fans association in the district.

Darshan probably has one of the biggest fan bases in the Kannada film industry. His fans have consistently supported him through his many controversies over the years. Like Mr. Gaja, most of them believe that Darshan is “innocent” and a few of them have arrived in Bangalore from various parts of the state to express solidarity with him. On social media, from conspiracy theories to calling the murder a “petty crime,” fans did everything they could to defend it.

What inspires this kind of unconditional loyalty to a star?

Experts say the obsession with celebrities is because people choose media to satisfy their needs. “They use media relations to relieve boredom, combat loneliness or give direction and direction to their lives. They seek romance, understanding, inspiration, communion, and identity, and meet these needs through mediated relationships. Being a fan plays a role in shaping the identity of adolescents,” said Manoj Kumar Sharma, professor in the Department of Clinical Psychology, who also heads the SHUT clinic at NIMHANS.

He highlighted the need for digital literacy among fans as well as celebrities/influencers to know how to handle untoward situations that arise on social media. “If a person feels that these relationships (with celebrities) are affecting his lifestyle and have almost become a concern, then he should take a break from social media and distract himself with other activities. Cultivating offline interaction habits to build social capital will also be helpful,” he said.