Rishab Shetty has made much news lately, as well as not just on social media but on his increasing popularity in the Kannada movie industry. The actor and director has been involved in a ruckus with prominent film director Hombale Films, actress Rukmini Vasanth, and not enough other major public figures with that fact in his career, only the person whom he follows and his wife Pragathi Shetty.
Rishab Shetty drew attention this week for his blockbuster film Kantara and its prequel. Rather than building the city of film architecture in Keradi or Kundapura such that filmmakers simply step in, Rishab Shetty decided to build elaborate sets all of a sudden and make sure the film is filmed in the coastal area.
Shetty pointed out that the success of the Kantara community has made the Kundapura and Byndoor regions a film city for filmmakers and that the areas are now seen as potential "film cities" and that shooting will probably increase in its activity soon.
This is a cultural shift he feels has had a cultural impact in this region as well after Kantara and people in this region have become much more confident and associated with cinema, he says. Not only were local traditions and folklore documented in the film, but it also brought local attention to the coastal Karnataka belt.
Rishab Shetty said the natural beauty of the region has been mostly under-appreciated in Indian cinema. But, with its beautiful beaches, coastal natural environment, and culture and history, it would make for a great site to shoot with filmmakers.
Meanwhile, the actor-director has been hard at work on his new movie Jai Hanuman. Recently the film was launched with a muhurat ceremony at Anjanadri Hill in Hampi, whetting the fans' imagination.
With much of the success of Jai Hanuman and his ability to help share regional narratives and places to get people to watch him in cinema with them, Rishab Shetty is carving out a unique career in Indian cinema to fuse content with culture and a specific place in the world in a unique visual direction towards cinema for cinema.
