Kannada star Rishab Shetty, who captured nationwide attention with his 2022 blockbuster Kantara, is back with his much-awaited prequel, Kantara Chapter 1. At a recent press meet in Mumbai, he opened up about his journey from working as a driver and office boy in the city to becoming a pan-India actor and filmmaker. Speaking with honesty and gratitude, Rishab reflected on cinema’s power to transform lives and shared insights into the making of his ambitious new film.
Your journey from driver in Mumbai to leading the Kantara Chapter 1 is inspiring. How do you look back on it?
For me, Mumbai is very special. Back in 2008, I worked as an office assistant in a production house in Andheri West, and also as a producer’s driver. While eating vada pav on the road near that office, I never imagined I would come this far. Cinema has given me so much love, respect, and blessings far beyond what I could dream of. I’m incredibly grateful.
Everyone is talking about how your village came together for the Kantara Chapter 1 event. Tell us about that.
Everyone in my village, in Kundapura’s Keradi, was part of the filmmaking process. It felt like the entire place had turned into a film village. The whole town became a studio. I’m deeply grateful to my villagers, the crew, my wife Pragathi, professors, cultural dancers, their families, and even the seniors who guided us. This film was built on collective effort.
The prequel is set centuries ago. How did you bring that world to life?
It was one of the toughest challenges. We had no direct references for the 4th–5th century. Everything production, costumes, sets, was built from reading, listening, and imagining. We were very particular about the look, the backdrop, the characters’ behaviour, and even the language. The goal was to make it feel authentic while maintaining a cinematic and entertaining quality.
You juggle the roles of writer, director, and actor. How do you manage it all?
Honestly, I just go with the flow. It’s possible only because of my team. They are my big army. I may be the face of it, like a king, but it was never just my effort. It was my vision and dream, but my team made it their own. Whatever we’ve achieved is because of them. Switching between actor and director felt completely organic. In some action sequences, I would perform, then immediately grab the mic, go to a height, and check the framing or shots. It was intense, but the flow of the process made it manageable, and I could stay fully involved in both roles throughout the shoot.
After the success of Kantara, did you feel pressure working on the prequel?
I see it as motivation, not pressure. Pressure stops you from creating freely. For me, it’s a responsibility to work harder and put in more effort to bring a story that audiences will connect with. That’s the spirit behind Kantara Chapter 1.
You often speak about cinema being everything to you. How do you balance life and work?
Honestly, for me, there’s no difference between life and cinema. They are the same. I live, think, and breathe cinema 24×7.
Rishab, how do you respond to people who say Pragathi got involved just because she’s your wife?
(Smiles) People often say that, but it’s not true. She is extremely talented and committed. She didn’t get this role because she’s my wife, but because she is the right person for the job.
Pragathi on Rishab: Box
As the costume designer and creative partner, Pragathi Shetty offers a rare glimpse into Rishab Shetty’s dedication, passion, and relentless drive. From juggling multiple roles to pouring his heart into every detail, she reveals what fuels the filmmaker behind the blockbuster prequel.
Cinema Is His Whole Life: For Rishab, cinema is everything. This project wasn’t easy at all he was the writer, actor, and director, which demanded a lot physically, mentally, and emotionally. But thanks to the blessings of our daivas and the love of the audience, we managed to pull it off.”
Driven by Dedication: I’ve seen how deeply committed he is. Day and night, he was immersed in the film thinking, writing, performing, directing. It was exhausting, but his passion kept him going.
Giving Back to the Audience: When we made Kantara (2022), it was a small Kannada film, yet the audience showered us with so much love and support. That inspired Rishab to give something bigger in return a story that honours that love and goes beyond what we imagined.
