Rishab Shetty

Biography

Prashant Shetty, professionally known as Rishab Shetty, is a National Film Award-winning Indian film director, actor, and producer who spearheaded the pan-Indian resurgence of coastal Karnataka's cultural folklore. Educated at the Government Film and TV Institute in Bangalore, Shetty directed acclaimed Kannada films like Ricky and the cult campus comedy-drama Kirik Party (2016), which became one of the highest-grossing Kannada films of its time. In 2022, Shetty wrote, directed, and starred in the divine action-thriller phenomenon Kantara, produced by Hombale Films. Blending high-octane rural action with the sacred Bhoota Kola and Daivaradhane spiritual traditions of Tulu Nadu, Kantara grossed over ₹400 crore worldwide and won the National Film Award for Best Actor for Shetty's awe-inspiring, physically possessed performance in the climax. Celebrated for his grounded storytelling, reverence for indigenous heritage, and visionary directorial flair, Shetty has begun production on Kantara: Chapter 1, solidifying his status as a leading pan-Indian creative force. Shetty's revolutionary success with Kantara proved that hyper-local, indigenous cultural stories possess universal cinematic appeal, inspiring a nationwide renaissance in folklore-driven Indian filmmaking.