Rishab Shetty’s rise from Kannada cinema to one of the most recognised names in Indian films has now earned him a place on the Forbes India list of the country’s top 100 celebrities.

The Kantara actor and filmmaker is among the names featured on the prestigious list, adding another national recognition to a career that has expanded significantly after the success of his films. What makes his inclusion particularly notable is that he has been recognised across three areas: acting, direction and writing.

Rishab’s transformation into a pan-India name has largely been driven by Kantara. The 2022 Kannada film, which he directed and headlined, took a story rooted in local folklore, traditions and the relationship between people, nature and the divine to audiences across the country.

The success continued with Kantara: Chapter 1, the prequel backed by Hombale Films. The film became one of the biggest Indian hits of 2025, crossing the ₹800-crore mark worldwide, and further strengthened Rishab’s position beyond Kannada cinema.

Rishab is committed to Jai Hanuman, director Prasanth Varma’s mythological epic. The actor plays Lord Hanuman in the film, which began production earlier this year.

The project is also significant because it takes Rishab from the folklore-driven world of Kantara into a much larger mythological canvas. The actor has spoken about his faith in the story and said he is confident that audiences will understand the scale of the film when the makers reveal further details about the film.

And Jai Hanuman is only the beginning of what could be another major phase in his career. Rishab will be part of The Pride of Bharat - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

His rise is also significant for Kannada cinema. Rishab has managed to take stories with strong regional roots to a national audience without giving up their cultural identity. From Kantara to Jai Hanuman, his career is now moving between the local and the pan-Indian without abandoning the filmmaker's instinct that brought him this far.