Jr NTR was the chief guest at Kantara Chapter 1 event in Hyderabad. He praised Rishab Shetty and stated that the Kannada star is a rare actor-director combo

Last Updated: 09.52 AM, Sep 29, 2025
Kantara was a smash hit in Telugu, and the hype for Kantara Chapter 1 is also quite high. To take things to another level, the makers held a grand pre-release event in Hyderabad, and none other than Jr NTR graced the occasion as the chief guest.
Jr NTR revealed his personal connection to the folklore stories showcased in Kantara. "Not many know, but my mother is from Kundapur, Karnataka. During my childhood, my mother used to tell me stories about Fuliga and Panjurli. I used to listen to them with a lot of interest but also had doubts about their authenticity. But the moment I watched Kantara, I was shocked and relived my childhood through the film," said Jr NTR.
The RRR star did not shy away from praising Rishab Shetty, stating that no one other than Rishab could pull off a Kantara, and he is super excited to see what Rishab is up to with Chapter 1.
Jr NTR also lauded Rishab by saying that the command the Kannada star has over the 24 crafts of filmmaking is something rare, a true combination of an actor-director who can excel in all forms.

Kantara was released by Allu Aravind in the Telugu states, but the stakes are higher this time. Not many Telugu films are releasing on October 2, 2025, which makes Kantara Chapter 1 a perfect release for the region.
The trailer has raised expectations further, and visually, the film looks stunning. With a lot of hype surrounding it, Jr NTR’s presence at the pre-release event has amplified the buzz in the Telugu states. It now remains to be seen what kind of numbers the film will make at the box office.
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 will be in theatres across the world from October 2, 2025. Subsequently, it will head to Amazon Prime Video on October 30, 2025.
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.