Rishab Shetty is currently on a whirlwind tour of Bengaluru, balancing his busy schedule with filming the prequel to Kantara in his hometown of Kundapura. The actor and director recently achieved significant recognition at the 70th National Awards, securing both the Best Actor and Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment awards. This accolade adds to his previous National Film Award for Best Children’s Film, awarded for his directorial venture, Sarkari Hiriya Prathamika Shale Kasaragodu, released in 2018.
Expressing his long-held aspiration to win a national award, Rishab Shetty shared his excitement, noting that such a prestigious trophy has always been a part of his dreams since he began his career two decades ago. “It’s a wholesome feeling when you win a national award because of the prestige associated with it,” he said.
Shetty dedicated his latest award to his team, the people of Keradi, and the daiva nartakas, attributing the film’s success to his hometown roots and the support of his village. He expressed gratitude to Vijay Kiragandur, the film’s producer, for believing in the project and to the villagers who supported him throughout the filming of Kantara. “I feel the daivas also had a huge hand in blessing me with winning this award,” he added.
In light of the ongoing discussions about declining theater attendance, Shetty emphasized the importance of providing a memorable experience to audiences. He suggested that engaging content is key to attracting people to the theaters, regardless of its scale. “All people want is to walk out of theaters feeling good and satisfied,” he concluded.
