Jr NTR Hails Rishab Shetty's Extraordinary Vision for 'Kantara: Chapter 1'

On September 25th, 2025, actor Jr NTR attended the pre-release event of the upcoming Kannada film 'Kantara: Chapter 1', where he spoke passionately about his admiration for the movie and its director, Rishab Shetty.

Jr NTR began by reminiscing about the childhood tales his grandmother used to narrate from Kundapur, revealing that he never imagined those stories would one day be brought to life on the big screen. The actor expressed awe at how Rishab Shetty had managed to translate those same narratives into the film, saying it left him "speechless."

Effusive in his praise, Jr NTR called Rishab a "rare breed of actor-directors" who seems to have mastered all aspects of filmmaking. He remarked that he had long wondered which side of Rishab - the actor or the filmmaker - dominated more, only to realize that the director "dominates all the 24 crafts of cinema." The actor stressed that without Rishab's vision and commitment, 'Kantara: Chapter 1' would not have been possible.

Jr NTR also shared a personal anecdote, recounting how Rishab had helped fulfill a long-cherished wish of his mother - a darshan at the Krishna temple in Udupi. The actor emphasized that such gestures demonstrated Rishab's deep connection to the film's roots and the people of the region.

The event was also attended by actor Rukmini Vasanth. With high expectations surrounding the release of 'Kantara: Chapter 1,' the film promises to take audiences on a captivating journey into the origins of the sacred Bhuta Kola ritual in pre-colonial Karnataka.