Exclusive! Rishab Shetty on collaborating with Shiva Rajkumar: "Can't take the huge opportunity lightly"

Among the many things that the success of Kantara fetched actor-director Rishab Shetty is a sense of clarity. As someone who was associated with several projects at the same time, Kantara's status as a bona fide 'divine blockbuster' seems to have put things in perspective for Rishab who now looks to be more prudent with his choices. It isn't that he has grown calculative, he says, but the idea going forward would be to do away with obligations and instead work on films that suit his ambitions as an artist.

"Since I haven't worked in a calculated manner so far, I don't see why I should suddenly feel the need to do so. I am very much a "go with the flow" kinda guy and I try my best to remain that way. In the past, I might have agreed to work on a few projects either because of obligations or other quandaries but going forward, considering the success of Kantara, I suppose I should not let those factors guide my decisions. And I have had instances where I tried to help out people in the industry and those attempts have backfired. You may have also tended to take on certain projects because someone holds you in high regard but it is important to see beyond all that and acknowledge the fact that the audience has showered so much love on you. I feel indebted, in fact. So, at this point, I feel motivated to try something new and possibly improve upon what I have done previously. I feel I am gaining more clarity in the meantime," shares Rishab Shetty in an exclusive conversation with OTTplay. 

Aside from multiple acting gigs, Rishab previously had at least two films in the pipeline as a director. One is the ambitious Rudraprayag which sees him reunite with the legendary Anant Nag after Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale and the other is a film with the Century Star Shiva Rajkumar. While Rudraprayag is very much in the works, Rishab is unsure when and how the Shivanna project, which was announced more than a year ago, will materialize.

"We had certainly decided on working together but haven't been able to put together the right script for the collaboration. I was busy with Rudraprayag initially but since that couldn't happen because of the pandemic, my focus then shifted completely towards Kantara. And working with a legendary actor like Shivanna means a great opportunity and I don't want to go ahead without a bound script. No point in doing it out of pressure or an obligation. And to be honest, I am quite overwhelmed with Kantara that I would need time to find my bearings again (laughs)," adds Rishab to allude to the growing responsibility in him as a filmmaker following the success of Kantara.