Rishab Shetty takes a dig at Bollywood for ‘showing India in bad light’, netizens hit back with THIS startling scene from Kantara

Kannada superstar Rishab Shetty, who gained nationwide acclaim after the success of his film Kantara, made headlines when he won the Best Actor award at the National Film Awards. However, the actor has upset some fans with his recent comments about Bollywood and how it portrays India in a 'bad light'. 

Rishab Shetty on Bollywood

For the unversed, the actor recently took a swipe at the Bollywood industry and its portrayal of India at international film festivals. He expressed frustration with how the Hindi film industry often depicts India negatively on the global stage. He said, “Indian films, especially Bollywood, show India in a bad light. These art films are invited to global events and given a red carpet. My nation, my state, my language—my pride. Why not present it positively on a global scale, and that’s what I try to do.” 

Reddit users pick on actor’s Kantara scene

Reddit users have criticized the actor for what they perceive as hypocrisy, highlighting a scene from his own film Kantara. In a scene from his film, his character pinches his co-star Sapthami Gowda’s waist. Sharing the clip, users pointed out the perceived hypocrisy and argued that the film, which won two National Awards, has normalized sexual harassment. A Reddit user commented, “Also, there's another scene where he is peeking while she is bathing. It was really uncomfortable to watch; no doubt the movie was great, but sexual harassment is too normalized in Indian cinema.” Another user, noting South Indian cinema's 'navel fetish', commented, “Never-ending navel fetish. When are these South Indian actors going to stop playing with and pinching women’s waists/stomachs? It’s so uncomfortable to watch.” 

Also read: 70th National Film Awards: Kannada cinema emerges as winner as KGF 2 and Kantara win big

Rishab Shetty’s Kantara

Kantara won Best Actor for Rishab Shetty and Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment at the 70th National Film Awards for his directorial work. The actor-director is now gearing up for the prequel to the blockbuster, Kantara: Chapter 1, which is currently in production. 

Enjoy 35+ OTTs like ZEE5, LionsgatePlay, Ullu, SunNXT, SonyLIV, Fancode and 250+ Live TV channels at just ₹99