Actor-director Rishab Shetty has dismissed recent reports suggesting that the production of Kantara: Chapter 1 faced multiple challenges and shooting delays. Speaking at a recent event in Mumbai, Rishab clarified that such claims were baseless and deliberately spread by certain individuals. He emphasized that the film’s production proceeded smoothly and without major issues.
Rishab explained that filming in remote forest locations with limited network connectivity naturally kept the team away from media and public attention. “We didn’t face any problems during the shoot. The rumors were purely fabricated. Unlike other films, we did not release frequent posters, interviews, or teasers. After the first teaser, we focused entirely on the work. Once the shoot was completed, we released a making-of video. During that gap, some people spread negative publicity on social media,” he said.
The nearly 200-day shoot did witness a few unfortunate incidents. Junior artist M.F. Kapil tragically drowned in the Souparnika River near Kollur in Karnataka, and a bus carrying junior artists met with an accident, injuring six people. Despite these setbacks, Kantara: Chapter 1 received widespread critical acclaim for its visuals and cultural authenticity. The film also achieved massive commercial success, collecting a net total of ₹386.9 crore in India.
