From Stunts to War Scenes, Rishab Rejects Body Double

Indian movie audiences are yet to forget the chilling climax performance by National Award-winning Kannada star Rishab Shetty in Kantara. Rishab’s riveting act, complemented by the Varaha Roopam song, took audiences into a trance in theaters. Now, the actor-director is all set to offer a goosebumps-inducing experience in the climax of the Kantara prequel, Kantara Chapter 1.

Apparently, Rishab Shetty has performed some dangerous stunts without using a body double in Kantara Chapter 1. The acclaimed actor’s dedication and passion to bring in an epic cinematic realism has left the film’s action choreographer, Arjun Raj, and the entire unit in awe. So impressed was Arjun Raj that he went on to say that no duplicate can copy Rishab’s unique body language.

“I have worked with many actors, but Rishabh does not just say, ‘I will try my best,’ but he says, ‘I will do it as long as I am alive.’ This spirit changes everything,” said the action director. For this breathtaking sequence, Rishab is said to have trained in Kalaripayattu, sword fighting, and horse riding.

Kantara: Chapter 1 makers have roped in over 500 skilled fighters and 3,000 extras for the biggest-ever war sequence shot for an Indian movie. The spectacular war sequence was shot for almost 50 days across an entire city spread across 25 acres. Produced by Vijay Kiragandur under the Hombale Films banner, Kantara Chapter 1 is scheduled for release on October 2, 2025, in Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, Bengali, and English.