At the Mumbai press meet for his highly anticipated film Kantara: Chapter 1, filmmaker and actor Rishab Shetty got candid with the media, sharing an emotional account of his early struggles in the city where his cinematic journey began. Known today for his powerful storytelling and the massive success of Kantara, Rishab looked back at his humble beginnings with heartfelt sincerity.
“Mumbai is very special to me,” he said. “Because this is the same Mumbai where in 2008, there was a production house in Andheri West—I was an office boy. And there was a producer—I was his driver. Now you all know what cinema can do. Today I am here, in front of you. I did a film like Kantara, and I found recognition, I got the love, blessing, respect—everything. What more could I say? I haven’t even thought about all this happening. I used to eat in the mess, the worker mess at Andheri West. I would eat vada-pav, and I never thought I would come this far in life.”
Rishab also expressed his deep gratitude for the love he received after Kantara’s release, especially for his role in the Bhuta Kola tradition depicted in the film. “After working for 17 years, when I did Kantara and people saw me in the Bhuta Kola role, I am very grateful. So thank you everyone so much,” he added.
Kantara: Chapter 1 is written and directed by Rishab Shetty and produced by Vijay Kiragandur and Chaluve Gowda under Hombale Films. A prequel to the 2022 blockbuster Kantara, the film explores the ancient roots of the myth, spirituality, and man’s connection to nature, set during the rule of the Kadambas of Banavasi.
The film is set for a global theatrical release on October 2, 2025, in IMAX and standard formats, across eight languages—Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, English, and Spanish.
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