Darshan: My father gave me life, but Ambareesh Appaji taught me all about life

Challenging Star Darshan has always been vocal about how dear the late Rebel Star Ambareesh was to him. Darshan, who lost his father, actor Thoogudeepa Sreenivas, early on, found an adoptive father in Ambareesh, a guiding figure who showed the actor right and wrong and so much more. In a recent interaction with filmmaker and RJ Mayuraa Raghavendra, Darshan spoke at length about what Ambareesh, whom he called Appaji, meant to him.

“Appaji has had a major influence on my life. My father brought me into this world, but it was Appaji who taught me about life and how to live it. He taught me what’s right and what’s wrong in people, circumstances, etc., what to do and what not to do. To the outside world, he may have come across as a loud-mouthed bragger, but he was a very sensible man. In public, he had a certain image – Ambareesh drinks, smokes and gambles – and in front of people, he would, perhaps, speak in a certain way that was not acceptable to some, but at times when it was just the two of us, he’d get philosophical. He was a very good human being,” said Darshan.

The actor elaborated that the first time he met Ambareesh was on the set of a film called Devara Maga. Darshan had not told anyone that he was Thoogudeepa Srinivas’ son for the fear of missing out on opportunities. By the second day on set, Ambareesh got wind of Darshan’s family background and took him to task for not telling him earlier. Their bond began there, says Darshan. The actor’s close relationship with the Ambareesh family continues to date with the Rebel Star’s wife Sumalatha, who, incidentally, plays a pivotal role in his next, Kranti, which releases in theatres on January 26, as well as with Abishek Ambareesh.