 His first film in a lead role was in the 2001 film "Majestic".Darshan starred in commercially successful films such as "Kariya" (2003), "Namma Preethiya Ramu" (2003), "Kalasipalya" (2005), "Gaja" (2008), "Saarathi" (2011) and "Bulbul" (2013) Yajamana(2019).His performances in "Anatharu" (2007) and "Sangolli Rayanna" (2012) won him praise from critics; his performance in the latter as the 19th-century warrior Sangolli Rayanna won him the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor.