Waiting for Kantara Chapter 1 on OTT? Here are 5 must-watch Rishab Shetty films to stream before the divine blockbuster drops

Kantara and Kantara Chapter 1 maybe Rishab Shetty's most popular films, but there are a bunch of other movies that he's directed, produced or acted in that should be on your watch list

Rishab Shetty films on OTTplay

Kannada actor-filmmaker Rishab Shetty is the man of the moment currently. After becoming a household name across the country with his 2022 film Kantara, Rishab has followed that up with a prequel that’s been taking the worldwide box office by storm. But much before all this pan-Indian fame and name came knocking, Rishab was a filmmaker whose works Kannada audiences keenly looked forward to. His 2018 film Sarkari Hiriya Prathamika Shaale had, after all, won a National Award.

An occasional actor, and frequent collaborator with fellow actor-filmmakers Rakshit Shetty and Raj B Shetty, Rishab turned solo hero only in 2019 with Bell Bottom, which he followed up with Hero, Harikathe Alla Girikathe and then, Kantara.

Here are a few must-watch Rishab Shetty films, as director, actor or both, that you can stream on OTTplay

Ulidavaru Kandanthe

Ulidavaru Kandanthe was Rakshit Shetty’s directorial debut and had him in the lead as Richie, aka Richard Anthony. But Rishab also had a pivotal role, as Raghu, one of the main characters in the film. Raghu is Richie’s childhood friend, who, unfortunately, later dies by his pal’s hand.

Rakshit Shetty is currently working on the script of an Ulidavaru Kandanthe prequel, Richard Anthony. Given that Rishab has a long list of acting commitments lined up post Kantara Chapter 1, it remains to be seen if he will return as Raghu.

Sarkari Hiriya Prathamika Shaale Kasaragodu, Kodugé: Raamanna Rai

Sarkari Hiriya Prathamika Shaale was Rishab’s sophomore directorial, after Ricky, and was a socio-political comedy revolving around a Kannada medium school in Kasaragodu that is set to be shut down and how a bunch of students try to prevent that. The film won the National Film Award for Best Children’s Film. Rishab had a cameo in the film led by a bunch of child actors, as well as Anant Nag.

Bell Bottom

Bell Bottom’s Detective Diwakara was Rishab’s maiden role as a leading man. The crime comedy, directed by Jayatheertha, was set in the 80s, and paired Rishab with Hariprriya. The film was a commercial success, following the makers announced their intention to make a sequel. Bell Bottom 2 was listed as one of Rishab’s upcoming projects until, of course, Kantara came along and changed the trajectory of his filmography.

Hero

While Rishab has often spoken about Kantara being a film that he and his team came up with while back in Kundapura during the pandemic, just prior to that, he had done a movie when relaxations had just begun kicking in. This one, an action comedy, was directed by M Bharat Raj, for Rishab’s banner. Rishab played a barber seeking revenge against a former flame, played by debutante Ganavi Laxman, who’d ditched him and married a crime boss instead.

Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana

Raj B Shetty wrote and directed himself and Rishab in a gangster tale set in Mangaluru. As Shiva and Hari, they were like the two sides of one coin, until, the latter’s ambition drove a wedge between them, fuelled by certain machinations by a cop, Brahmayya (Gopalkrishna Deshpande) hell bent on destroying them.

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