Kantara star Rishab Shetty to be honoured at Melbourne film festival

Rishab Shetty in ‘Kantara’

For Rishab Shetty, Kantara is a gift that keeps on giving. The actor, writer, and director will be honoured with the Leadership in Cinema Award at the 2026 edition of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) next month. The award recognises Shetty's contribution in bringing forth the traditional and spiritual heritage of coastal Karnataka through the two-part film franchise.

A source said, "With the Kantara franchise, Rishab has emerged as one of contemporary Indian cinema's most distinctive voices, bringing together mythology, faith, ecology, and human emotion in stories that have resonated with the audience in India and internationally."

Abhishek Bachchan was given the award last year

Come August, Shetty will attend IFFM 2026 as one of the marquee guests. Honoured to be chosen for the award, the actor said, "Storytelling has always been my way of celebrating our culture, traditions, and the communities that inspire us. It is meaningful to see stories rooted in our heritage resonate with audiences across the world."

Aug 13-23
When Indian Film Festival of Melbourne will be held