After tasting massive success with 'Kantara', Sandalwood actor-turned-director Rishab Shetty has reportedly set his next film ‘Kantara 2’ in 400 AD to deliver another realistic rural thriller. It is touted to be a prequel and not a sequel to his well-received socio-fantasy—Kantara.
“Producers are willing to pump in more than Rs 150 crores to deliver a magnum opus to live up to the rising expectations around the action thriller. Actually, Kantara was made with a shoestring budget of Rs 14 crores, but it turned out to be a pan-India blockbuster by grossing more than Rs 320 crores,” says a source and adds, “Rishab Shetty has lost 11 kilos to look fit and leaner by undergoing physical training and dietary restrictions. He was on the heavier side in Kantara. He has written an engaging and gripping saga and set his rural drama in the 4th century loaded with real-life incidents and characters to make the prequel a fascinating experience for viewers,” he adds.
After Kannada star Yash swept the audience off their feet with the KGF series, it was the turn of his colleague Rishab Shetty to become a pan-India star. ‘Rishab’s emotional performance in the climax was one of the highlights of the film and the tribals' fight against evil forces with the help of Lord Varaha was fascinating. This story of Kantara was set in the 1800s when a King gives his forest land to a demigod who in turn gives it landless tribals. But the King’s descendants returns decades later to reclaim it, but face the wrath,” he concludes.
Kannada films have undoubtedly become hot favorites for Hindi film audiences along with Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam viewers.
