Rishab Shetty: I can't make another film like Hero

There are quite a few things about his upcoming film, Hero, that take Rishab Shetty down memory lane. The Bharath Raj M directorial will hit the big screen this Friday (March 5). It tells the story of a regular person who turns into a hero after an incident in his life. Rishab Shetty, who plays the lead role, says that he has experienced a few instances where he did something out of the ordinary in real life.

“During my second year in college, I chased a thief who snatched money from a girl who was selling bananas. I was there to drop my akka on her scooty. I managed to catch the thief. At that time, I wanted to join the police. Since I was into judo and other combat sports, I was eligible to join the service through the sports quota. In fact, one of my father’s friends urged me to write the exams for it. So when I caught this thief and saw the police, I felt as if I was already in the department,” he recalls.

Rishab recalls another 'heroic' moment from the time he was directing Sarkari Hiriya Prathamika Shale. The film, which was in complete contrast to his previous work, was appreciated for the courageous attempt. “The film started off as something ordinary and became an out-of-the-box product,” says Rishab.

He next goes on to mention the fire accident that happened during the shooting of Hero. “It happened despite all the precautions, and my co-stars and crew members panicked. However, my pep talk brought back their confidence,” he recounts.

On how he motivated himself to shoot Hero amid the pandemic, Rishab says, “When nobody is doing anything, it's a good opportunity to do something and steal the excitement.” The team felt no jitters as far as the uncertainty over its release was concerned. “If not theatres, we had the option of releasing the film on OTTs or on YouTube. All we wanted was to offer some entertainment. They say, ‘Cinema happens for just reasons,’ and Hero justifies it. Everything fell in place for the film,” says Rishab, stressing that he will not be able to make another film like Hero. “Even if somebody else wants to remake this film, it will take double the budget with which we have made it. The credit for Hero goes to all the 24 members in the crew,” he explains.

Rishab, who shot to fame with his second directorial venture, Kirik Party, is known for his experimental attempts in filmmaking. “I also enjoyed choreographing the stunts for Hero, along with Vikram Mor,” he says.

Rishab asserts that he fits the bill completely for the lead character of Hero, and says he would have cast himself in the role even if he were directing the movie. “The story came up with me in the picture, and the film was titled much later,” he says.

Hero is unlike the products that come from Rishab Shetty Films, and does not carry a social message or a feel-good factor. “This is an action-comedy adventure. Though it’s not over-the-top violence, there are scenes with bloodshed. The cinematic experience is something to watch out for,” says the actor-filmmaker as he signs off.