The man of the moment in showbiz is no doubt Rishab Shetty, the Kantara star-director . As the film continues to set new records in five languages including Hindi, Rishab remains unfazed by the naysayers who attack for attention.
“It is sad that our film which celebrates our culture and tradition is being questioned. I am saddened to see these vain attempts to pull down Kantara .The film has already gone to the people. And they have embraced it. These people(expressing dissent) are being misled,” says Rishab in Hindi.
Very shy about his personal life Rishab reluctantly reveals, “Both my children are Covid babies. And my third baby, Kantara is also a Covid baby, considering I wrote it during the lockdown. Rather, it wrote itself out. I had to make no effort to put together the images and ideas that were in my head since my childhood.”
Kantara is not the first film Rishab has directed. “It is actually my fourth directorial. My earlier three films as director Ricky, Kirik Party and Sa.Hi.Pra.Shaale Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai did not feature me as the lead actor, though I did a cameo in the third.”
Rishab Shetty’s Ricky and Kirik Party starred his best friend Rakshit Shetty who scored a big hit earlier this year with 777 Charlie. During the making of Kirik Party, Rakshit fell in love with his leading lady Rashmika Mandanna , the Pushpa girl. Rakshit and Rashmika were engaged to marry . But they called off their relationship.