From Kannada Cinema to Pan-India Stardom: The Evolution of Rishab Shetty
Additionally, rumours suggest he is expected to play the lead role in a Hindi film based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji.
Before the release of Kantara, Rishab Shetty was relatively unknown outside of Karnataka, despite having already established himself as a talented director and actor within the Kannada film industry. Everything changed overnight with the phenomenal success of Kantara in 2022. Within just two weeks, the film became a box-office sensation in Telugu and Hindi as well.
The film ultimately grossed over Rs 410 crore at the box office. Kantara 2, released in 2025, collected double that amount, grossing more than Rs 800 crore.
Meanwhile, Shetty has been on a signing spree, securing two major Telugu projects: Jai Hanuman (to be directed by Prasanth Varma) and a big-budget film under Sithara Entertainments. Additionally, rumours suggest he is expected to play the lead role in a Hindi film based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji.
Word on the street is that following the massive success of Kantara, Shetty is now commanding a fee of Rs 80 crore per movie. Given his expanded market reach and growing fan base, he is reportedly unwilling to compromise on his remuneration.
