As there is an emerging and prominent wedding Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda have in Udaipur this week, much of the acclaim focuses on Rashmika’s former fiancé, the Kannada film visionary Rakshit Shetty.
Though his name is often synonymous in the headlines with his previous partnership with the "National Crush," the actor-director has been striving for a lasting identity as one of the foremost filmmakers in the Indian cinema for the past couple of years. Where the "Simple Star" really is, and what is he doing, now that the rest of the industry is swirling over wedding gossip?
‘Richard Anthony: Lord of the Sea’ is a prime focus
As of Feb 2026, Rakshit Shetty is already deeply into pre-production and scripting for what is arguably his most ambitious directorial project Richard Anthony: Lord of the Sea. As a spin-off, prequel and sequel to his 2014 cult classic Ulidavaru Kandanthe, this film has more than 21.5 credits. Pramod Shetty, a star of some close cooperation with Rakshit, recently revealed that Rakshit doesn’t rush into his craft. He has spent more than a year and a half honing the script and has already scouted locations in Dubai and the USA. It will start production very soon set to be released in late 2026 or early 2027.
Lives in Udupi and Bengaluru
Rakshit’s life is divided between the coastal tranquillity of his home town, Udupi, and the professional heart of Bengaluru. Adept at maintaining a philosophical stance and taking “social media detoxes,” he stays somewhat distanced from paparazzi culture. Pramod Shetty, a close friend of his, addressed the media about the wedding buzz:
“Rakshit is not a kid feeling guilty … He’s nowhere; he’s just going to have to take his time creating. He will rise like a phoenix."
Paramvah Studios Has Great Success. Outside of acting and directing, Rakshit is a powerhouse producer. Paramvah Studios his production house has achieved big milestones over the decade 2025–2026:
- Data: The Studio reportedly made over ₹300 crores in turnover with hits 777 Charlie and Sapta Sagaradaache Ello.
- Nurturing talent: Rakshit is still supporting newcomer-driven films such as Ibbani Tabbida Ileyali and Mithya, channeling his funds towards creating a “new wave” in Kannada cinema.
- Pipeline: He is working on four scripts at once, including Midway to Moksha and two-part Punyakoti project. Rashmika Today. Even though Rashmika had to contend with a lot of trolling after they split in 2018, neither actor has managed to get out of their way of the deal for the other, at least well into adulthood.
Rakshit has made his rare return on social media defend Rashmika with a few more lines responding to the abuse, but they still respect the other so much that they even message on special occasions. Though he is said to not be on the private Udaipur ceremony’s guest list, those close to him believe he is focusing exclusively on his “big dreams” and the future of that universe of filmmaking.
Rakshit Shetty is something of a rare star in our noisy culture for not giving a fuck about his own history, and for saying something meaningful, even about himself, when most people wouldn't. As he prepares to return to the director’s chair, his audience still believes that he will be his most legendary on the job.
