Malayalam actor Jayaram has shared his experience of starring in the pan-India blockbuster Kantara: Chapter 1, directed by Rishab Shetty. The actor plays the pivotal role of Bhangra Raju Rajasekhar, a character that evolves from a modest presence in the opening sequences to a commanding force during the climax. Audiences have widely praised his performance, which adds depth to the film’s narrative.
Speaking about how he joined the project, Jayaram said, “Three years ago, when Kantara released, I was amazed by the film and immediately called Rishab Shetty to congratulate him. He told me, ‘Sir, I’m a huge fan of yours; I grew up watching your films.’ Coming from a family based near the Kerala-Karnataka border, he admired both Kannada and Malayalam cinema. A few months later, he called me again, explained the story of Kantara: Chapter 1, and invited me to be part of it. Without any second thought, I agreed.”
The film has made remarkable waves at the box office, collecting over ₹89 crore on its opening day worldwide—an extraordinary achievement for a Kannada film. On the ticketing platform BookMyShow, more than 1.28 million tickets were sold within the first 24 hours, setting a record for ticket sales in this range for 2025. Jayaram’s performance, combined with the film’s gripping storyline, has been hailed as a major factor in its pan-India success.
