Jul 07, 2026 4:00pm IST
Rishab Shetty on Balancing ‘Jai Hanuman,’ Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Film and ‘Kantara: Chapter 2’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Rishab Shetty is entering one of the busiest phases of his career, with the National Award-winning actor-filmmaker simultaneously juggling acting, writing, directing and producing responsibilities across multiple projects.
After the global success of “Kantara,” Shetty is preparing to headline “Jai Hanuman,” which will be followed immediately by a historical biopic on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The actor, who celebrates his birthday today, says the physical demands of both roles require him to shoot the films one after the other rather than overlap schedules.
“I have the two films happening back to back. I cannot multitask and do two films simultaneously, so it will be ‘Jai Hanuman’ followed by ‘The Pride of Bharat - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.’ Both the films also have me with separate looks that I need to maintain,” says Rishab, who is also currently sporting a completely bulked-up look for the film.
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While his acting calendar remains packed, Shetty says he has not stepped away from filmmaking. He is simultaneously developing “Kantara: Chapter 2,” continuing to build one of Indian cinema’s most successful homegrown franchises. “I need to do that. I cannot keep quiet about my directorial. I find peace of mind and happiness when I am at it. I have my team of writers with me and we are already working towards this film,” he shares.
The filmmaker is also scaling up his production ambitions. Under his banner, Rishab Shetty Films, he is preparing to announce two new projects later this year as he broadens his footprint beyond acting and directing.
Shetty says that he always wants to put the money he earns from cinema into making good cinema. The actor celebrated his birthday in Bengaluru with family, friends and colleagues, even as work continues across his expanding slate.
Beyond individual projects, Shetty is also investing in filmmaking infrastructure. With conversations around establishing a dedicated film city in Bengaluru continuing within Karnataka’s film industry, the actor says he has taken a grassroots approach by developing a filmmaking ecosystem in his native village of Keradi, where much of the original Kantara was created.
“We all crib about the need for a film city in Bengaluru, but I have tried my hand at creating a cinema village in my hometown, Keradi,” shares Rishab, who has done most of the work for “Kantara Chapter 1” in his hometown.
As Indian regional cinema continues to command growing global attention, Shetty’s slate reflects an increasingly integrated approach to filmmaking — balancing marquee acting roles with franchise development, talent incubation through his production house and investment in long-term creative infrastructure rooted in Karnataka.
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