Rishab Shetty: What you watched is Kantara 2 because Kantara 1 is in the making now

Not very long ago, Vijay Kiragandur of Hombale Films confirmed that Kantara 2, quite indeed, is in the making. The film will be a prequel, he told Deadline, adding that Rishab Shetty is keen on exploring the folk tale that features in the 2022 film Kantara. Although the exact details regarding the storyline or the film's main focus area still remain under wraps, Kiragandur divulged that Rishab & co. were nestled in the forests of coastal Karnataka to conduct extensive research and develop the story of the prequel.

As much as the announcement from the official source charmed the fans, one still looked forward to Rishab Shetty himself sharing an update regarding Kantara 2. The actor-director has been intriguingly reluctant to speak about the project under development and has instead chosen to focus all his energy on conceiving a film that is worthy of all the hype and anticipation.

Well, it would seem that the wait is over as Rishab finally comes out to discuss Kantara 2, sharing a small but very important detail concerning the narrative. During the grand 100 Days of Kantara celebration, Rishab Shetty revealed and admitted that Kantara 2 was certainly in the making and that the film will be a prequel. He would also add that the 2022 film can be technically termed Kantara 2 because the upcoming instalment's storyline heads back in time many decades with the folktale shown in the initial portions of Kantara, potentially, being the crux of the new narrative. 

In the same conversation with Deadline, Vijay Kiragandur said that the prequel will 'explore the deity's backstory and the pact with the troubled king that was intended to protect the villagers'. Kantara's narrative begins more than 100 years ago when a wandering king donates a vast piece of land to a new set of inhabitants and encourages for a new community/village to thrive. The same piece of land, along with the untapped nature that surrounds it, becomes the source of contention in the film.

While Rishab will play the central role in the prequel, he is expected to don a new avatar with new members added to the cast. Although unconfirmed, the buzz is that the makers are looking at roping in a big actor for a key role in the prequel but it is simply a matter of time before a formal word is shared. Hombale Films has also said that Kantara 2 (prequel) will command a bigger budget but the main ethos and authenticity will be retained regardless.