Rishab Shetty on Kantara's success at 70th National Awards: 'Never imagined...'

At the 70th National Awards, Rishab Shetty made history as the fourth Kannada actor to win the prestigious Best Actor award for his outstanding performance in Kantara. The film also bagged the award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment solidifying its status as a cultural phenomenon.

Shetty expressed his excitement over the double win, reflecting on his journey from his earlier films to the present. “I am very happy that not one, but the film is winning two awards. Even for the last movie, we won two awards,” he said, referring to his 2018 Kannada movie Sa.Hi.Pra.Shaale, Kasaragodu, which won Best Children's Film at the time.

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Speaking about Kantara, Shetty shared his deep connection with the film's subject matter. "Every film we make, we think it's special. But Kantara was a movie about our deity. The conflict between nature and humans. I always felt more regional is more global," Shetty remarked. He added that while he believed the film would resonate with audiences, its unprecedented success was beyond his wildest dreams.

With a modest budget of under Rs 20 crore, Kantara exceeded all expectations, grossing over Rs 400 crore worldwide and cementing Shetty's status as a national sensation. The success of Kantara has allowed him to dream even bigger, as he’s now working on a follow-up film, Kantara: Chapter 1.

The upcoming film, set to release next year, will serve as a prequel, delving into the events that led up to the original Kantara. 

The film is bankrolled by Hombale Films. The teaser released earlier promised a visual treat, and Rishab has undergone a significant physical transformation to embody the role of a folklore hero. The production is progressing at a steady pace, but the filmmakers have not revealed much about it, including details about the main cast.

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