Rishab Shetty performs intense stunts without doubles in Kantara: Chapter 1, featuring a massive war sequence and cultural depth

CJ Desk

Hombale Films’ much-awaited film Kantara: Chapter 1 is creating a huge buzz as one of the biggest releases of the year. After the massive success of Kantara in 2022, which became a surprise blockbuster, this upcoming prequel promises to take the story to the next level. Fans are eagerly waiting to see what’s in store.

Actor and director Rishab Shetty is giving his all to the film. In a recent update, action choreographer Arjun Raj shared that Rishab has done all his own stunts — without using a body double. “He performed bare-bodied, and his body language is so unique that no one else could do it,” said Raj. Rishab trained in Kalaripayattu, sword fighting, and horse riding to prepare for the role. “He doesn’t stop at ‘I’ll try my best.’ He says, ‘I’ll do it till I am alive.’ That spirit changes everything,” Raj added.

Kantara: Chapter 1 also features a strong creative team, including music by B. Ajaneesh Loknath, cinematography by Arvind Kashyap, and production design by Vinesh Banglan.

One of the film’s biggest highlights is an epic war sequence that took 45–50 days to shoot. It involved over 500 trained fighters and 3,000 extras, filmed on a 25-acre rugged location — making it one of the largest war sequences in Indian cinema.

The film is set for a worldwide release on October 2, in Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali, and English.

With Kantara: Chapter 1, Hombale Films aims to deliver a grand cinematic experience rooted in Indian folklore and culture, while raising the bar for action and storytelling in Indian films.