I Am Not Alone Behind Kantara Chapter 1, It’s a Team’s Hard Work: Rishab Shetty

Actor-director Rishab Shetty and actress Rukmini Vasanth’s much-awaited film Kantara Chapter 1 is all set to release in theatres on October 2. In a recent interaction with the media, Rishab spoke in detail about the film. During this conversation, he shared insights about the shooting experience, the uniqueness of the film, and the expectations of the audience. Let’s take a look at the highlights of what Rishab Shetty revealed.

How is your character in Kantara Chapter 1 different from the previous film? Will we get to see something new?

This is a completely different character. There is no similarity with the previous one because this is not a sequel but a prequel.

After the massive success of Kantara, did you feel pressure while working on its prequel?

I wouldn’t say there was pressure, but yes, the responsibility had certainly increased. If I had worked under stress, I wouldn’t have been able to give my best. What I knew for sure was that the next chapter had to be a grand spectacle. My team and I have been working day and night for the past three years on Kantara Chapter 1. I sincerely hope the audience loves this film too.

You are acting, writing, and directing this film. Does handling so many responsibilities create stress or pressure?

I am not a one-man army for this film. There are thousands of people behind me. I may be the visible face, but I had immense support from my producers. From the scripting stage to pre-production, selecting the VFX company, finalizing costumes, and even during post-production, they stood by us at every step. That was my biggest strength. Editors and the music director also played a major role. This has truly been a collective effort with my entire team.

This film also features a song by Diljit Dosanjh. How was your experience working with him?

It was absolutely amazing. He is a wonderful human being and also a devotee of Lord Shiva. I loved his spiritual connection. The song he sang has added incredible energy to the film. One day, it just struck me that if Diljit sang this song in Hindi, it would be perfect. I needed a solid voice for it, and his was just right. I’m really happy about how it turned out.

The story of Kantara Chapter 1 is rooted in a small region of Karnataka, yet it became popular all across India. How do you see this?

At the end of the day, we are all Indians. The roots may look different depending on the region, but the essence is the same. In the beginning, we were all tribes, but our faith was one. For example, a journalist in Uttarakhand told me about something called “Manushya Aavahan.” I replied that in our region, too, we use the same word “Aavahan” with the exact same meaning. Agriculture has always been the backbone of our culture—our food habits, traditions, and lifestyle have revolved around it. Even if humans change, the humanity rooted in our culture remains the same. That’s why Kantara resonated with villages and audiences across the country, giving everyone a sense of belonging.

There were reports that several accidents occurred during the film’s shoot, and some people even died. Is that true?

Nothing of that sort happened during the shoot. Unfortunately, though, we did lose three people associated with us. One passed away from a heart attack during rehearsals, but not on set. Another drowned in a river near a temple on a day off. The third was Rakesh, a close associate and a brilliant actor, who died suddenly of a heart attack. His loss deeply shocked us. He was always cheerful and positive. The entire team still remembers him fondly.

South Indian films have become very popular among Hindi audiences too. What are your thoughts on this trend?

It’s very positive. Cinema is no longer confined by language. Hindi films are loved in the South, and now South Indian films are making their mark across the country. Movies like Baahubali started this trend, and since then, audiences nationwide have embraced South cinema wholeheartedly.

These days, the younger generation seems very interested in mythology, and your film Kantara has played a big role in that. What do you think about this?

Our youth are wise and observant. Today’s generation doesn’t just see mythology as stories but also as history. This reflects a process of returning to our roots. As a director, it is my responsibility to present these stories in a positive and meaningful way—and I am confident that I will be able to do so.

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