'Kantara' star Rishab Shetty dreams of turning Keradi into 'Keradi Film City'

Kannada star Rishab Shetty recently appeared on 'The Rana Daggubati Show', where he shared insights about his filmmaking journey and his dreams for his hometown, Keradi. During the episode, which will be available for streaming on December 21, 2024, Rishab expressed his ambition to transform Keradi into a cinematic hub.

Rishab revealed that he has always wanted to shoot a film in the forests of his village. He mentioned that he had scouted locations for various projects over the years but only succeeded with 'Kantara'. He shared, "I scouted this location for multiple movies, but it never worked out. Then came Kantara which was finally shot here. It was a collective effort, over 700 people from the village contributed. It’s because of this overwhelming involvement that I call my home KFC – Keradi Film City."

Rishab also shared how 'Kantara' has changed the perception of cinema in his village. He added, "This region isn't huge on films, but Kantara made them see their own on screen. It became relatable, and the love and blessings poured in abundantly.”

During the conversation, Rishab also shared his admiration for popular directors like Sandeep Reddy Vanga, known for blockbuster films such as 'Arjun Reddy' and 'Animal'. He praised Vanga's unique vision and expressed a strong desire to collaborate with him on any upcoming projects.

Meanwhile, Rishab's upcoming projects, he is currently working on 'Kantara: Chapter 1', which is set to release on October 2, 2025. The prequel of the film is expected to go back in the time speculated to be an origin story.

Additionally, he will portray a significant role in the historical drama Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, directed by Sandeep Singh and 'Jai Hanuman' working with Prasanth Varma.