Rishab Shetty took the Kannada cinema to a new height with his blockbuster movie ‘Kantara’. He will return to the big screen with its prequel ‘Kantara Chapter 1’, which has created excitement among the audiences. However, the movie has got into a controversy ahead of its release as it has reportedly received backlash for allegedly creating a disturbance in the forest area.
According to a report by India Today, the team of Kantara: Chapter 1 is currently filming in the forest area of Gavigudda, Heruru village in Karnataka. The locals reportedly accused the crew of causing damage to the environment as the explosives have been allegedly used during the shoot.
The outrage was caused because the forest area is home to several wildlife species. Former Zilla Panchayat member Sanna Swamy also expressed his anger over the shoot and said, as per India Today, “Farmers are already struggling with wild elephant attacks. Despite the Supreme Court’s directive to protect forests, officials have been negligent. Immediate action must be taken to prevent further damage.”
The reports also claim that a youngster from the area was allegedly attacked by the crew during the altercation and was admitted to Crawford Hospital in Sakleshpur with injuries. The locals also demanded the filming be shifted to another location after this incident. As per India Today, they also threatened action against the team and said that they will file a petition in the High Court if their concerns are not addressed.
‘Kantara Chapter 1’ will release in theatres on October 2, 2025. While interacting with media, producer Vijay Kirangandur said, “We’ve completed about 30 per cent of the filming, and the next schedule is starting in September. Fans can expect the movie to hit theatres by August 2025.”
On the work front, Rishab Shetty will star in Prasanth Varma’s ‘Jai Hanuman’ along with Teja Sajja.
