After the success of the KGF franchise and Kantara, the Kannada film industry, popularly known as Sandalwood, has been aiming to elevate its standing on the Pan-India stage. The upcoming Kantara Prequel, directed and headlined by Rishab Shetty, is expected to be a defining project for the industry. The film is set to release worldwide on October 2 as a grand Dussehra gift.
Rishab Shetty, who impressed audiences with his dual role as actor and director in Kantara, has now become one of the biggest names from Sandalwood. His 2022 film, made on a budget of just ₹13 crore, went on to gross over ₹450 crore worldwide, even surpassing the first part of KGF at the box office. The massive success gave Sandalwood fresh momentum after KGF 2 had already crossed the ₹1,000 crore mark.
The Kantara Prequel is now being positioned as an even bigger gamble. With a production budget of ₹125 crore, the film is targeting a staggering ₹500 crore collection at the box office. Industry analysts believe its performance will be crucial in determining Sandalwood’s standing in the Pan-India race.
Meanwhile, Rishab Shetty is also expanding his horizons beyond Kannada cinema. He has already greenlit a Bollywood project based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji, and is collaborating with producer Naga Vamsi for a direct Telugu film. With major offers pouring in, the actor-director is becoming a strong Pan-India presence. All eyes are now on October 2, to see whether Kantara Prequel can deliver another record-breaking blockbuster.