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Rishab Shetty

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Rishab Shetty
Rishab in 2026
Born
Prashanth Shetty[1]

(1983-07-07) 7 July 1983 (age 43)
Keradi, Karnataka, India
EducationVijaya College
Occupations
  • Actor
  • Director
  • Producer
  • Screenwriter
Years active2006–present
Spouse
Pragati Shetty
​
(m. 2017)​
Children2

Rishab Shetty (born 7 July 1983) is an Indian actor, film director and producer who works in Kannada cinema. He is known for his roles in Bell Bottom, Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana, and Kantara franchise which was his highest-grossing directorial,[2] and earned him the National Film Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

Shetty's acting debut was with Tuglak (2012). He next played an important role in Ulidavaru Kandante (2014) and made his directorial debut with Ricky (2016). His next directorial Kirik Party (2016) was a commercial success and fetched him Filmfare Award for Best Director, and SIIMA Award for Best Director. Later he directed Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale, Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai (2018), which got him the National Film Award for Best Children's Film and Karnataka State Film Award for Best Family Entertainer.[3][4]

Early life

[edit]

Prashanth Shetty was born on 7 July 1983 in Keradi village in Kundapura Taluk of Udupi District, Karnataka to a Bunt family.[5][6][7] He did his schooling in Kundapura and later joined Vijaya College, Bengaluru to pursue B.Com. He started his theatre journey by doing yakshagana plays in his hometown actively while studying in Bengaluru. He was appreciated for his work and success in these plays encouraged him to pursue acting as a profession.[8]

Career

[edit]

After his graduation, Shetty worked several odd jobs like selling water cans, real estate and did hotel work while also trying for roles in movies.[9] While working odd jobs, he also acquired a diploma in film direction from the Government Film and TV Institute in Bangalore.[10] He started working in the film industry as a clap boy, then as a spot boy, and then was an assistant director. He met Rakshit Shetty while working in the industry, they became friends later on.

His first major acting role was in Tuglak (2012).[11] He played a small but impactful role of a police officer in Pawan Kumar's Lucia and then played an important role in Ulidavaru Kandante, which was directed by Rakshit Shetty. In 2016, his directorial debut Ricky starring Rakshit Shetty received an average response at the box office. In the same year, he directed Kirik Party, which was an industry hit at the box office. After this, In 2018 Shetty directed and produced Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale, Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai, which received critical acclaim and won the National Film Award for Best Children's Film as well as Karnataka State Film Award.[12][13]

He debuted as a lead actor in Bell Bottom (2019) which was well received. His major role after this was that of Mangaluru-based gangster Hari in the film Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana (2021). The film was a commercial and critical success in which the performance of Rishab Shetty and its director Raj B. Shetty was widely appreciated by critics.[14]

The Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu conferring the National Film Award for Best Children's Film in December 2019
The President Droupadi Murmu conferring the National Film Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in October 2024

He then appeared briefly in two films, Mishan Impossible and Harikathe Alla Girikathe (both in 2022), the former being his Telugu film debut. Shetty collaborated with Hombale Films for his next directorial Kantara in which he was also the lead actor.[15] It was initially released only in Kannada and was later dubbed into other languages, after receiving critical success.[16] Kantara is the second highest-grossing Kannada film of all-time worldwide and also received Swarna Kamal for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and Rishab won Rajat Kamal for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance and At the 54th IFFI 2023 he won IFFI Special Jury Award.[17][18]

In 2025, he acted and directed Kantara: Chapter 1, A prequel to the 2022 film Kantara. The film became a commercial success at the box office and is currently the second highest-grossing Kannada film of all-time, second highest grossing Indian film of 2025 and also ranks among highest-grossing Indian films of all time.[19][20][21]

Filmography

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Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released

As actor

[edit]
  • All films are in Kannada language, unless otherwise mentioned
Year Title Role Notes Ref
2012 Tuglak Villain [22]
2013 Attahasa Undercover Cop [23]
Lucia Police Inspector [24]
2014 Ulidavaru Kandanthe Raghu [24]
Gargar MandalaN/aDubbing artist for Adarsh
2016 Ricky Radhakrishna's friend [25]
2018 Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale Inspector Kempraju
Ambi Ning Vayassaytho Director of the movie Cameo appearance
2019 Bell Bottom Detective Divakara [24]
Katha Sangama Mentally Disturbed Person [24]
Avane Srimannarayana Cowboy Krishna Cameo appearance
2021 Hero Hero
SriKrishna@gmail.com Police Inspector Cameo appearance
Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana Hari [26]
2022 Mishan Impossible Khaleel Telugu film; Cameo appearance [27]
Harikathe Alla Girikathe Giri and Himself Dual roles
Kantara Kaadubettu Shiva and Annappa [28]
2023 Hostel Hudugaru BekagiddareSeniorCameo appearance
2025 Kantara: Chapter 1Berme, Mayakara, Annappa and Kaadubettu Shiva Four roles [29][30]

As director

[edit]
Year Title Notes
2016 Ricky Debut as director
Kirik Party
2018 Sa.Hi.Pra.Shaale Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai
2022Kantara
2025Kantara: Chapter 1

As producer

[edit]
Year Title Notes
2018 Sa.Hi.Pra.Shaale Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai
2019 Katha Sangama
2021 HeroAlso co-writer
Pedro
2022Shivamma Yarehanchinala
2024 Colors As presenter; TV mini series
Laughing Buddha

Philanthropy

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On 7 July 2023, He founded the Rishab Shetty Foundation, through which he adopted a Kannada government school in Keradi and supports educational initiatives. In 2026, he participated in the launch of the International Volunteer Year (IVY) 2026 initiative.[31][32][33][34]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Film Award Category Result Ref
Kirik Party 2016 Karnataka State Film Awards Best Family Entertainer Won [35]
64th Filmfare Awards South Best Director – Kannada Won [36]
2nd IIFA Utsavam Best Director Nominated [37]
6th SIIMA Awards Best Director – Kannada Won [38]
Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale, Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai 66th National Film Awards Best Children's Film Won [12]
2018 Karnataka State Film Awards Best Family Entertainer Won [39]
[13]
66th Filmfare Awards South Best Film – Kannada Nominated [40]
[41]
Best Director – Kannada Nominated
8th SIIMA Awards Best Director – Kannada Nominated [42]
[43]
Best Film – Kannada Nominated
Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana 10th SIIMA Awards Best Actor – Kannada Nominated [44]
67th Filmfare Awards South Best Actor – Kannada Nominated [45]
Shivamma Yarehanchinala Three Continents Festival Young Jury Award Won [46]
Kantara: A Legend 54th International Film Festival of India IFFI Special Jury Award Won [17]
11th SIIMA Awards Best Director – Kannada Won [44]
Best Actor (Critics) Won
68th Filmfare Awards South Best Director – Kannada Nominated [45]
Best Actor – Kannada Won
70th National Film Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role Won [47]
Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment Won
Critics' Choice Film Awards Best Actor Won [48]
Chandanavana Film Critics Academy Awards Best Actor Won [49]
Chittara Star Awards Best Actor Male Won [50][51]
Best Director Won
TV9 Nava Nakshtra Awards Divine Star Award Won [52]
Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 India Business Leader Award Entertainment Leader of the Year Won [53]
Chittara Star Awards Best Actor Won [54]
Indian National Cine Academy Awards Best Actor (Kannada) Won [55]
Best Director (Kannada) Won
Prajavani Kannada Cini Sammana Acting Excellence Won [56]
Excellence in Film Direction Won
TV9 Nava Nakshtra Awards Best Director & Best Actor Won [57]

Other recognitions

[edit]
  • 2022: OTT Play honoured Rishab Shetty with "Pioneering Contributions to New Wave Cinema" Award and In 2023, it honoured him "Gamechanger of the Year" Award.[58]
  • 2025: GQ Men of the Year honoured him with "Cinematic Powerhouse" Award.[59]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Do You Know The Real Name of Kantara Fame Rishab Shetty?". News18. 18 October 2022.
  2. ↑ "Rishab Shetty's Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 witnessed a near 70 % jump on Tuesday to collect over Rs 1 crore in Hindi". The Times of India. 5 November 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  3. ↑ "Happy Birthday Rishab Shetty: 10 reasons why the National Award winner is much more than just a superstar". The Tribune. 7 July 2026.
  4. ↑ Ponnappa, Sanjay (16 October 2025). "Did you know Rishab Shetty's first National Award win came before Kantara?". India Today.
  5. ↑ "INTERVIEW | Rishab Shetty: 'I believe in the practice and I have portrayed it'". 17 November 2022.
  6. ↑ "Kantara Rishab Shetty felicitated by Sharjah Karnataka Sangha and UAE Bunts community". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  7. ↑ "Rishab and Pragathi Shetty's glitzy Bunt wedding". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  8. ↑ Shenoy, Sanjana (7 November 2022). "Kantara Actor-Director Rishab Shetty Says He Sold Water Bottles & Tea Powder To Make Ends Meet". Curly Tales. Archived from the original on 15 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  9. ↑ "Kantara fame Rishab Shetty on his struggle in the Kannada industry". 21 October 2022. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  10. ↑ Sharadhaa, A (16 January 2016). "Making Ricky". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 17 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  11. ↑ Rao, Subha J. (4 January 2022). "Meet the 3 Shettys changing Kannada cinema". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  12. 1 2 "66th National Film Awards" (PDF) (Press release). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 August 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  13. 1 2 "Karnataka State Film Awards 2018: Raghavendra Rajkumar and Meghana Raj Bag Top Honours". News18. 10 January 2020. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  14. ↑ "If you liked Rishab Shetty in 'Kantara', watch his 7 best and highest-rated movies, per IMDb on ZEE5, Voot and more". GQ India. 20 October 2022. Archived from the original on 15 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  15. ↑ "Kantara box office collection: Rishab Shetty's film overtakes Kiccha Sudeep's Vikrant Rona, is now third-highest grossing Kannada film ever". 20 October 2022. Archived from the original on 20 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  16. ↑ "Rishab Shetty's 'Kantara' to release in multiple languages - Times of India". The Times of India. 5 October 2022. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  17. 1 2 "Winners at IFFI54". Press Information Bureau. 29 November 2023. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  18. ↑ "Rishabh Shetty named Brand Ambassador for International Year of Volunteers 2026". Times Of India. Bengaluru: Times Of India. 10 January 2026.
  19. ↑ Kaur, Arshdeep (8 October 2025). "Kantara Chapter 1 Box Office Day 7: Rishab Shetty's movie earns ₹400+ cr, becomes 2nd highest-grossing Kannada film". mint. Archived from the original on 8 October 2025. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  20. ↑ "Kantara Chapter 1 dethrones Chhaava to become the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025, crosses ₹800 crore". Hindustan Times. 23 October 2025. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  21. ↑ "Rishab Shetty's 'Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1' beats Prabhas's ' Bahubali- The Beginning' to become 12th biggest hit of Indian Cinema". Hindustan Times. 13 October 2025. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  22. ↑ Bohra, Anurag (19 May 2024). "Rishab Shetty gets a flying kiss from Mohammed Siraj as he attends CSK vs RCB match". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  23. ↑ Reddy, Y Maheswara (20 September 2022). "Double Role". Banglore Mirror. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  24. 1 2 3 4 M V, Vivek (29 September 2022). "Rishab Shetty opens up on his acting career". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  25. ↑ Sharadhaa, A. "Ricky by Rishab Shetty Gets U/A, Release Date Pushed to January 29". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  26. ↑ "People will be surprised with my role in 'Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana': Rishab Shetty". The New Indian Express. 16 November 2021. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  27. ↑ "My role in 'Mishan Impossible' was done out of friendship: Rishab Shetty". Indian Express. 17 March 2022. Archived from the original on 17 March 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  28. ↑ "Rishab Shetty's Kantara is about the human versus nature conflict - Times of India". The Times of India. 6 August 2021. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  29. ↑ "Rishab Shetty announces 'Kantara 2' launch in 2024; Says it will be a 'Prequel'. Read more here". The Economic Times. 7 February 2023. ISSN 0013-0389. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  30. ↑ "Exclusive | Rishab Shetty shares update on Kantara 2: 'We will start shooting…'". The Indian Express. 7 July 2023. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  31. ↑ Bharat, E. T. V. (9 July 2023). "Kantara fame Rishab Shetty launches foundation for children of a lesser god". ETV Bharat News.
  32. ↑ "Rishab Shetty adopts government school in his hometown". 18 December 2023.
  33. ↑ Mukherjee, Anindita (8 July 2023). "Rishab Shetty's wife Pragathi announces 'Rishab Shetty Foundation' on his birthday". India Today.
  34. ↑ "Actor Rishab Shetty urges youth to help change societal mindsets at Bengaluru event". 11 January 2026 – via The Economic Times - The Times of India.
  35. ↑ "Karnataka State Film Award Winners for 2016". The Times of India. 11 April 2017. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  36. ↑ "64th Filmfare Awards 2017 South: Kirik Party is the big winner of the night". The Times of India. 19 June 2017. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  37. ↑ "IIFA Utsavam 2017 (2016) Kannada Full Show, Nominees & Winners". Updatebro.com. Archived from the original on 28 March 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  38. ↑ "SIIMA 2017 Kannada winners list — idlebrain.com news". Idlebrain. Archived from the original on 12 October 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  39. ↑ "KARNATAKA STATE FILM AWARDS 2018: RAGHAVENDRA RAJKUMAR AND MEGHANA RAJ BAG TOP HONOURS; CHECK OUT ALL WINNERS". bangalore mirror. 10 January 2020. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  40. ↑ "Nominations for the 66th Filmfare Awards (South) 2019". Filmfare. 13 December 2019. Archived from the original on 12 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  41. ↑ "Winners of the 66th Filmfare Awards (South) 2019". Filmfare. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  42. ↑ "SIIMA Awards 2019: Here's a complete list of nominees". The Times of India. 19 July 2019. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  43. ↑ "SIIMA Awards 2019 full winners list". Times Now. 17 August 2019. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  44. 1 2 "SIIMA WINNER'S 2022". Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  45. 1 2 "67th Parle Filmfare Awards South 2022 with Kamar Film Factory". Filmfare. Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  46. ↑ Sharadhaa, A. (3 December 2022). "Rishab Shetty's Shivamma showered with awards". Cinema Express.
  47. ↑ "National Film Awards Live: Kannada cinema shines bright as KGF 2, Kantara bag wins, Rishab Shetty gets best actor prize". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  48. ↑ "'Forever Grateful': Rishab Shetty After Critics Choice For Best Actor Award For Kantara".
  49. ↑ India, The Hans (31 March 2026). "Rishab Shetty, Ashika Ranganath win top honours". www.thehansindia.com.
  50. ↑ "Rishab Shetty nominated for Chittara Star Awards 2023". www.daijiworld.com.
  51. ↑ "Kantara movie fame Rishab Shetty's winning speech at Chittara Star Awards". 1 November 2022 – via YouTube.
  52. ↑ "Divine Star Rishabh Shettyಗೆ Tv9 ನವ ನಕ್ಷತ್ರ ಸನ್ಮಾನ" – via www.youtube.com.
  53. ↑ "Rishab Shetty, the driving force behind the Kantara franchise, wins the Entertainment Leader; N18V". 14 March 2026 – via YouTube.
  54. ↑ "ರಿಷಬ್ ಶೆಟ್ಟಿ ಪಾಲಿನ ಹ್ಯಾಪಿನೆಸ್ ಯಾರು ಗೊತ್ತಾ?; Chittara Star Awards 2026 Colors Kannada". 20 June 2026 – via YouTube.
  55. ↑ "Rishab Shetty Received 3 Awards For Kantara Movie 🔥 | INCA AWARDS 2026". 16 April 2026 – via YouTube.
  56. ↑ "Prajavani Kannada Cine Sammana: A night of glitz and glamour". Deccan Herald.
  57. ↑ "TV9 Nava Nakshtra Award 2026: ನಟ, ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ ರಿಷಭ್ ಶೆಟ್ಟಿಗೆ TV9 ನವ ನಕ್ಷತ್ರ ಸನ್ಮಾನ ಗೌರವ". 14 February 2026 – via YouTube.
  58. ↑ "OTTplay Changemakers Awards 2023: Rishab Shetty wins 'Gamechanger of the Year' title". OTTPlay.
  59. ↑ India, G. Q. (29 November 2025). "Meet the winners of GQ Men of the Year 2025". GQ India.
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