Rishab Shetty takes Kantara: Chapter 1 to Amitabh Bachchan's Kaun Banega Crorepati hotseat; check it out!
Rishab Shetty joined Amitabh Bachchan on KBC 17 for Bachchan's birthday, leveraging the platform to promote his global box-office smash, Kantara: Chapter 1, which has surpassed Rs. 500 crore globally.
Last Updated: 01.08 PM, Oct 12, 2025
Season 17 of the hit quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), hosted by Amitabh Bachchan, featured alongside the hit filmmaker-actor Rishab Shetty. Hombale Films, the production company, posted a snapshot of the highly awaited encounter, which happened on October 11, 2025, to celebrate Bachchan's 83rd birthday.
Viral birthday encounter and strategic promotion
Shetty, clad in a traditional black shirt and gold-coloured panche (dhoti), presents a tray with a present to a beaming Bachchan on the KBC hotseat stage in a photograph that went viral. Confirming Shetty's appearance in an upcoming episode, Hombale Films—the banner behind the hit Kantara franchise—posted the photo alongside a touching birthday message for the iconic actor. Kantara: Chapter 1 is Shetty's most recent box office hit, and this move is considered a crucial component of the marketing campaign targeting Hindi-speaking audience.
The actor-director of Kantara appearing on a nationally broadcast show like KBC is proof of the film's immense popularity across India. The precursor to the 2022 smash hit Kantara (Kantara: Chapter 1) has been a worldwide phenomenon since its release on October 2, 2025. The production house announced that the film had crossed the $500 crore milestone globally within its first week of release, surpassing the lifetime collections of both its predecessor and KGF Chapter 1. Preliminary data also points to a robust launch in India, where estimates for Day 1 collections reach an astounding ₹61.85 crore. The film has become an iconic cultural phenomenon, becoming the highest-grossing Kannada film of 2025 and one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time.
Exploring the mythology in Kantara: Chapter 1
Shetty explores the mythology of the magical Kantara forest and the origins of the Panjurli Daiva spirit in this film he wrote, directed, and stars in. The epic mythical action-drama revisits the ancestral war that was presented in the first film, taking place in the 4th century AD during the Kadamba dynasty. Gulshan Devaiah, Rukmini Vasanth, and Jayaram are all part of the film's stellar ensemble cast, while B. Ajaneesh Loknath composed the score.
Rishab Shetty's appearance on Kaun Banega Crorepati 17 is a strategic move to leverage the show's widespread reach for the continued success of Kantara: Chapter 1. The show, which is sure to combine promotional material for upcoming films with a joyous homage to Amitabh Bachchan, has fans giddy with anticipation. A watershed moment in the film's post-release journey has arrived with the meeting of two cinema generations on one of India's most prominent television channels.
FAQs:
Q: Why did Rishab Shetty meet Amitabh Bachchan on the sets of KBC?
A: Rishab Shetty made a special guest appearance on the sets of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) Season 17 primarily as a key part of the promotional push for his film, Kantara: Chapter 1. His visit also coincided with a special occasion: he presented a gift to host Amitabh Bachchan to celebrate the Bollywood icon's 83rd birthday.
Q: What is the worldwide box office collection of Kantara: Chapter 1?
A: According to an announcement by production house Hombale Films, Kantara: Chapter 1 has had an exceptional run, surpassing the ₹500 crore (or over $60 million USD) mark globally in its first week. This performance makes it the highest-grossing Kannada film of 2025.
Q: Who is the host of Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 17?
A: The host of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) Season 17, and the long-time anchor of the show, is the legendary Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan.