Rishab Shetty, the acclaimed Kannada actor and filmmaker, has once again captured the national spotlight following his recent National Film Award win for his performance in the 2022 hit film Kantara. Currently promoting the upcoming Kannada movie Laughing Buddha, which stars Pramod Shetty, Shetty has sparked widespread discussion online due to his comments in a recent interview with MetroSaga.

In the interview, which quickly went viral, Shetty criticized Bollywood for its portrayal of India on the international stage. Speaking in Kannada, Shetty expressed his displeasure with how Bollywood films often depict the country negatively in global film festivals. “Indian films, especially Bollywood, show India in a bad light. These art films are invited to global events and given a red carpet. My nation, my state, my language—my pride. Why not take it on a positive note globally, and that’s what I try to do,” Shetty said.

Looking ahead, Shetty is preparing for his next major project, Kantara: Chapter 1, a prequel to the original Kantara. The film, which is expected to hit theaters in early 2025, will delve deeper into the lore of the Panchurli Deiva during the Kadamba era. Shetty will reprise his role as the lead actor and director, with Jisshu Sengupta joining the cast. Ajaneesh Loknath, who composed the music for the original film, will return to score the prequel.

In a recent interview with PTI, Shetty discussed the challenges faced by Kannada content on OTT platforms. He expressed frustration that Kannada films often struggle to gain proper exposure and are sometimes forced to release directly on YouTube or through film festivals. Despite these challenges, Shetty expressed his joy at winning the National Award for Kantara, a film that has brought Kannada cinema into the national spotlight.