Actor-director Rishab Shetty has never shied away from pushing his limits, but with Kantara: Chapter 1, the journey was brutal—physically and emotionally. Produced by Vijay Kiragandur's Hombale Films, the much-anticipated prequel releases on October 2,

In a lengthy chat with a media house, Rishab recalled how the shoot tested his endurance. “Every single day, they would make me take an oil bath. If not for that routine, I feel I might have collapsed on set without realising it. The exhaustion was that intense,” he said.

He also revealed a gruelling stretch after a severe on-set injury.

“For nine straight days, I had no choice but to rely on painkillers — one in the morning, one in the evening. Even then, I didn’t stop shooting. The schedule left no room to step back,” Rishab added, underscoring the physical price paid to bring the film’s raw world alive.

Rukmini Vasanth, as the female lead, plays Kanakavathi. Shooting in the dense Keradi forests pushed her beyond comfort zones — thick undergrowth, humid weather, and long hours made each day tough. “It was intense and unforgettable,” she says, capturing the essence of the film’s earthy realism.

Backed by a strong technical team — cinematography by Arvind S. Kashyap, music by Ajaneesh Loknath, and production design by Shiva Kumar — Kantara: Chapter 1 promises to return audiences to the film’s mystic, raw world with the same fierce energy that made the original a phenomenon. The cast also includes Gulshan Devaiah, Malayalam actor, Jayaram, Prakash Thuminad, among the ensemble cast.