Q: Kantara: Chapter 1 has achieved massive success. How do you feel about the response?
Rishab Shetty: Thank you so much. My heartfelt thanks to the Telugu audience for their immense love and support. The response has been truly overwhelming—just like the original Kantara. I’ll never forget the affection shown by the people of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Q: Was the idea of making a prequel planned earlier?
Rishab: Yes, even during Kantara, the thought of a prequel existed. After seeing how deeply audiences connected with the film, we decided to explore the origin story.
Q: Many praised you for bringing back the beauty of folk tales. What inspired that?
Rishab: India is a land of rich folklore. With Kantara, I wanted to tell a story that reflects our roots. I feel blessed that audiences embraced it. Making this film was a huge challenge—from scripting to recreating the local essence—but every bit of it was worth it.
Q: What was the most challenging part of making Kantara: Chapter 1?
Rishab: The world-building. We even set up a special studio in my native region to achieve authenticity. Every day on set was a new challenge, but the love we’re receiving makes it all worthwhile.
Q: Tell us about Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, and Jayaram’s performances.
Rishab: They’ve all done a remarkable job. Rukmini’s emotional depth, Gulshan’s intensity, and Jayaram sir’s grace elevated the story. Each actor gave their all.
Q: You are both an actor and a director. Which role gives you more satisfaction?
Rishab: Direction comes first for me. Acting gives me joy, but direction gives me purpose.
Q: The background score by Ajinish Loknath has received high praise. How did it come about?
Rishab: Ajinish is brilliant. He recorded tribal sounds directly from native regions to capture the film’s essence. His work brought Kantara to life.
Q: You mentioned your bond with NTR. Can you share more?
Rishab: NTR is like a brother to me. His constant encouragement means a lot. I’ll always be grateful for his support.
Q: How was your collaboration with Hombale Films?
Rishab: They are more than producers—they are visionaries. Their trust and creative freedom helped us make Kantara what it is today.
Q: What’s next for you?
Rishab: My next project is Jai Hanuman. It’s very close to my heart. I have other ideas too, but they’ll take some time to develop.
Q: Any final message to your fans?
Rishab: I thank every audience member who made Kantara: Chapter 1 such a grand success. Your love gives me strength to tell more stories rooted in our culture and spirit.
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