Emerging from three years of deep immersion in the world of Kantara, actor-director Rishab Shetty recently met with the media in Bengaluru, revealing a palpable mix of nervous anticipation and relief. He described the experience as a return to a bustling city after years spent in the coastal town of Kundapura, Karnataka, the primary setting for his ambitious project, Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1.
Shetty confessed that the weight of expectations for this prequel is immense, a stark contrast to the release of the original Kantara in 2022. That film, initially seen as a promising Kannada movie, exploded into a pan-Indian blockbuster through incredible word-of-mouth. Now, all eyes are on the prequel, not just within Karnataka’s Sandalwood industry but across the entire Indian film fraternity. “I am relieved,” Shetty shared, admitting the sheer exhaustion from wrapping up his most significant film to date. “I am tired and finding it difficult to gather words to describe this journey. Usually, I am composed and mentally strong.”
As he fielded questions, Shetty slowly reclaimed his characteristic calm and humor. “I am somebody who doesn’t burden myself by worrying about my movie’s result. I am curious to see how people will respond to my film. That’s my state of mind after every project.”
Rishab Shetty and Rukmini Vasanth in the movie. | Photo Credit: Hombale Films/YouTube
Shetty was careful not to divulge too many plot details, emphasizing the massive responsibility of meeting the October 2 release date promised to producer Vijay Kiragandur. “In recent times, we worked for 30-40 hours at a stretch. We slept for maybe just one or two hours a day. I thank my direction, writing, and DOP teams,” he stated. The trailer showcases Shetty as a fierce warrior fighting a tyrannical king to protect his village. Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 is expected to explore the deeper origins of the mythological traditions and ancestral conflicts introduced in the first film, which notably featured the Bhoota Kola worship unique to coastal Karnataka and the poignant man-nature conflict.
A recent social media post by Rishab Shetty shared the trailer with the caption: “A saga of folklore, faith, and fire, born from our soil 🔥 Presenting the #KantaraChapter1Trailer to you all. Witness the divine spectacle in theatres worldwide on October 2nd, 2025.”
The film’s action choreographer, Arjun Raj, highlighted Shetty’s dedication to intense action sequences: “No hero from the Kannada film industry has done such risky stunts. After trying a dangerous sequence, I would request him for another shot as I wouldn’t be fully satisfied. Any other hero apart from Rishab sir would have refused to try again. He was always up for improvisation.”
Tragically, the production faced setbacks, with three crew members passing away in 2024, though not during filming. “What happened was extremely unfortunate. In fact, I faced four near-death situations during the shoot,” Rishab recounted, expressing profound gratitude to the daiva (divine spirit) for guiding him through the ambitious project. “We owe it to the divine spirit for helping us sail through tough times.”
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The stunning cinematography by Arvind Kashyap has been a major talking point for the prequel’s trailer. Shetty praised Kashyap, recalling their long working relationship: “I featured in a small role in Lucia (2013), for which Arvind was an assistant director. He was a drone operator for my directorial debut, Ricky (2016). He was the cinematographer for Bell Bottom (2019), where I played the lead. Our friendship goes a long way, and he is a smart technician who elevates my ideas.”
This cinematic journey began with a simple phone call in 2020, where Shetty pitched the one-liner for Kantara to producer Vijay Kiragandur. He is deeply thankful for a producer who granted him creative freedom to build a popular franchise. “Now, we are just waiting to show our movie to our people on October 2. We won’t talk more about it — it’s for them to see and give the verdict,” concluded Rishab, ready for what he considers the toughest challenge of his career. A trailer for the film is also included in the article, showcasing its compelling visual style and narrative hints.