The world of Kantara: Chapter 1 is set in Kundanpura, hundreds of years ago. But the world was quite literally built by Banglan, the art director.

In an exclusive conversation with CE, Banglan said, "In the hands of Rishab Shetty, Kundapura became a living, breathing world. Every frame tells a story, every detail resonates, and the land itself becomes a character." He added, "At the first narration in Kundapura, Rishab didn’t rush. He took almost a month to explain the story, the coastal Karnataka landscape, the Western Ghats, the culture, the people, and the vibe. We travelled to each location before he narrated the subtleties of the land."

Speaking about director Rishab Shetty's hands-on involvement with the project, "That immersive preparation gave me a deep understanding of the world we were about to build. In my career, it was the first time a director’s narration felt like an education in itself."

Rishab Shetty is written, directed, and starred in Kantara: Chapter 1, which has crossed Rs 655 crores in its worldwide collection.