Actor and filmmaker Rishab Shetty has addressed the criticism surrounding the portrayal of women in his Kantara films. He emphasized that while female characters in his stories are written to be strong and meaningful, their journeys depend on the storyline’s context.
Rishab shared that cinema often mirrors society, showing both its positive and negative aspects. “Filmmakers cannot always adjust narratives to meet external expectations. Cinema is a reflection of reality,” he said.
Addressing the 2022 Controversy
After the release of Kantara in 2022, Rishab faced backlash for a scene where his character pinched a woman’s waist without her consent. Reflecting on the criticism in an interview with Times Now, he explained that the scene was intended to show the character’s flaws, not to glorify inappropriate behavior.
“In the story, Shiva is both a hero and a flawed individual. I wanted to show his journey — how he makes mistakes and eventually grows. The film explores transformation and redemption. The mother’s character was written as powerful and inspiring. While opinions may differ, the intent was to portray change and reflection,” Rishab said.
Cinema as a Reflection of Society
Responding to comparisons with films like Animal, Rishab added that cinema portrays all shades of human behavior. “Stories in cinema reflect society. Some parts are positive, others negative. As filmmakers, we show both sides — it’s up to the audience to interpret the message. Films can offer lessons and awareness, and it’s important to focus on what we learn from them,” he noted.
About Kantara Chapter 1
Rishab Shetty is currently celebrating the success of Kantara Chapter 1, which has been performing well at the box office. Written and directed by him, the original Kantara was a sleeper hit, earning over ₹400 crore worldwide on a ₹15 crore budget.
The new prequel, Kantara Chapter 1, is set a thousand years before the events of the first film and stars Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, and Gulshan Devaiah. The film has already collected ₹370 crore worldwide within its first five days of release.
