The Devil (film, 2025) The Devil is a 2025 Indian Kannada-language action–political thriller film written and directed by Prakash Veer and produced by Prakash and Jayayama. The film, released on 11 December 2025, stars Darshan Thugodipa in a powerful dual role. Other supporting roles include Ravana Roy, Mahesh Manjrekar, Achyoth Kumar, and Sharmila Mandre.

Plot Summary

The film focuses on a dramatic political power struggle in Karnataka. After Chief Minister Rajasekhar is arrested and sent to jail on corruption charges, his trusted advisor Anant Nambiar is tasked with finding his son Dhanush in London and bringing him back to lead the party. When Dhanush proves arrogant and irresponsible, Nambiar recruits a lookalike named Krishna — a humble diner owner with dreams of acting — to impersonate him and garner public support. When the real Dhanush returns, a conflict over identity, leadership, love, and the future of the state begins.

Cast and Characters

• Darshan Thugodipa plays both Dhanush and his lookalike Krishna, showcasing contrasting personalities — one corrupt and toxic, the other sincere and brave.
• Rachna Roy plays the female lead, and veteran actors like Mahesh Manjrekar and Achyoth Kumar add depth to the story.
• Sharmila Mandre and other actors support the film’s political and emotional arcs.

Filming began in March 2024 in Bengaluru, though production was temporarily halted in mid-2024 due to Darshan’s legal issues and resumed in early 2025. The approximately 169-minute film features cinematography by Sudhakar S. Raj** with music by B. Ajanesh Loknath.
There were high expectations leading up to its release, with fan enthusiasm prompting the producers to move the theatrical release date a day earlier to 11 December 2025. The film opened strongly at the box office when it opened in hundreds of theatres across Karnataka and other states.

Production and release

Themes and reception
Shaitan blends action, political intrigue and personal drama, exploring themes such as identity, leadership, and the gap between public perception and actual integrity. Darshan’s “dual performance” aims to strike a balance between broad appeal and emotional depth.

Critical, the film received mixed to negative reviews, with some reviewers calling the narrative familiar and unrealistic, while audiences praised the star power and action sequences. Ratings on major review platforms reflect mixed opinions, indicating that the film resonated with commercial cinema audiences, but may not fully satisfy all critics.

Box Office

Despite mixed reviews, The Devil enjoyed a strong opening weekend at the box office. The film made a good profit in its first week, and reportedly made a good profit in the first nine days after its release