Rishab Shetty Gets Emotional After Kantara Chapter 1’s Massive Opening

Actor-filmmaker Rishab Shetty shared an emotional note after the grand opening of Kantara Chapter 1. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he said the film’s success was possible only because of “God’s grace” and the “love and support” of fans. He added, “From struggling to get one evening show in 2016 to 5000 houseful shows in 2025, this journey is nothing but your love and support. Forever grateful to every single person who made this possible.”

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Rishab Shetty Recalling His Early Struggles

Rishab also reflected on his tough beginnings in the industry. Back in 2016, he revealed he had to literally plead with cinema owners to secure just one evening show for his film. Though he didn’t name it in the recent post, his debut directorial, Ricky (2016), starring Rakshit Shetty and Haripriya, had faced this exact struggle.

Fans Celebrate the Milestone

Rishab’s gratitude note has struck a chord with fans. One fan wrote, “You deserve every bit of it. I still can’t believe what I witnessed in the theatre. No one can match what you’ve done in Kantara Chapter 1.” Another praised the film’s visuals and background score, especially the Viswaroopam Darshan scene inspired by the Bhagavad Gita. Many also called it a proud moment for Kannada cinema, pointing out that even non-Kannadigas turned up in large numbers on opening day.

About Kantara Chapter 1

Kantara Chapter 1 is a prequel to the 2022 blockbuster Kantara. While the original explored folklore, the prequel dives deeper into the roots of the story. The film features Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, and Gulshan Devaiah alongside Rishab. Released in multiple languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and English, the film made a ₹60 crore opening day collection, setting new benchmarks for Kannada cinema.

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