Kantara Chapter 1 star Rishab Shetty to return to the big screen with Ashwin Gangaraju-Naga Vamsi project?

During the promotions of Kantara Chapter 1, Rishab Shetty had said that he has several acting commitments lined up and will likely start off with Prashanth Varma’s Jai Hanuman

Is the Ashwin Gangaraju-Naga Vamsi project Rishab's next?

Rishab Shetty spent the last 3 years on his promise to give audiences a Kantara prequel that would answer some questions about the mysterious forest. He has ended Kantara Chapter 1 with a lead in for another instalment in the franchise, but that is not what he’s doing next as an actor. Rishab has a handful of projects lined up and he is likely to focus on acting commitments for the foreseeable future, before he does the next chapter in the Kantara saga.

Rishab Shetty's Ashwin Gangaraju film to be made in Kannada

During the promotions of the Kantara Chapter 1, Rishab had hinted that his next project would be HanuMan director Prashanht Varma’s Jai Hanuman, but according to the latest, the actor will begin shooting for the as-yet-untitled historic drama set in 18th century Bengal, directed by Aakashavaani maker Ashwin Gangaraju and produced by Naga Vamsi. During a recent round-table conference of Telugu producers, Naga Vamsi had revealed that his film with Rishab is a Kannada project and will go on floors sometime in February-March 2026.

Earlier reports had suggested that the film would be shot in Telugu and Kannada, and then dubbed in Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi, but according to the filmmaker, it seems that Kannada will be the primary language. This could be in response to reports that Rishab’s upcoming filmography is with filmmakers from Telugu and Hindi cinema.

Although Jai Hanuman is expected to be next in line, it could make way for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, as the Sandeep Singh directorial has been announced as a January 21, 2027 release. The fourth project that he is reportedly in talks with is a biopic of King Krishnadevaraya, to be directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. When and how these films will be placed remains to be seen.

Kantara Chapter 1 meanwhile, had a stupendous box office run that is now nearing its end. The film is currently the highest grossing Indian film of 2025 and is headed to OTT on October 31. It will stream on Amazon Prime Video in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.

*Catch Kantara Chapter 1 and other exciting titles with Amazon Prime Video lite on OTTplay Premium with a top-up subscription.

Also read: Kantara Chapter 1 movie review: Rishab Shetty goes all out in grand but bland sequel

FAQs

Q. Are Kantara and Kantara: Chapter 1 the same?

A. No, they are separate films in the same franchise, both written and directed by Rishab Shetty. Kantara released in 2022, while Kantara: Chapter 1 hit theatres on October 2, 2025. Chapter 1 is the prequel of the original film and explores the origins of daivaradhane in the Tulunadu region.

Q. What is the run-time of Kantara Chapter 1?

A. Kantara Chapter is 2 hours and 47 minutes in total run-time.

Q. Where can one watch Kantara Chapter 1?

A. Kantara Chapter 1 hit theatres across the world on October 2, 2025. Subsequently, it will head to Amazon Prime Video on October 31, 2025, in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.

Q. Whose avatar is Panjurli Daiva?

A. Panjurli Daiva is considered an avatar of Lord Vishnu in his Varaha incarnation. Panjurli, according to folklore, was a wild boar, who was slain by Lord Shiva and then revived to become a divine protector.

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