kannada actor and filmmaker Rishab Shetty, renowned for his 2022 hit Kantara, is in the limelight once again. After recently securing a National Film Award for his role in Kantara, Shetty has been actively promoting the forthcoming kannada film Laughing Buddha, starring Pramod Shetty. However, it's his recent comments in an interview with MetroSaga that's causing a stir online.

In a viral clip from the interview, Shetty criticized bollywood for its portrayal of india at international film festivals. Speaking in kannada, he expressed frustration with how bollywood films often depict india negatively on the global stage. He stated, “Indian films, especially bollywood, depict india poorly. These art films get a red carpet at global events. My nation, my state, my language—my pride. Why not showcase it positively on the world stage? That’s what I aim to do.”

Looking ahead, Shetty is gearing up for Kantara 2, officially titled Kantara: Chapter 1. The highly anticipated prequel, which delves into the Panchurli Deiva lore during the Kadamba era, is set to release in early 2025. The film will see Shetty return as both the lead actor and director, with Ajaneesh Loknath returning as the music director. The fourth shooting schedule is set to begin in late August, as reported by Pinkvilla.

In a separate interview with PTI, Shetty also addressed the difficulties kannada films data-face on OTT platforms, noting that they often struggle for visibility and sometimes have to release directly on YouTube or through film festivals. Despite these hurdles, Shetty expressed pride in winning the National Award for Kantara, a film that has brought significant attention to kannada cinema.