Rishab Shetty promoted Kantara: Chapter 1 in Hyderabad, where Jr NTR attended as the chief guest despite recovering from an injury. However, Shetty faced backlash for addressing the audience in Kannada instead of Telugu
Jr NTR and Rishab Shetty
Actor Rishab Shetty is enthusiastically promoting his upcoming film Kantara: Chapter 1, the sequel to the hit Kannada film Kantara (2022). The film also stars Rukmini Vasanth in the lead opposite Rishab. Recently, Shetty was in Hyderabad to promote the movie. Actor Jr NTR graced the pre-release event as the chief guest. The two actors share a close, brotherly bond, which is why Jr NTR attended the event despite recovering from an injury.
Rishab faces backlash for speaking in Kannada
While Rishab Shetty showered love on Jr NTR at the event and addressed the fans gathered there, netizens were not impressed with the Kantara star. At the event, Rishab spoke in Kannada, which left the Telugu audience upset. Several took to social media to express their disappointment with him for speaking in Kannada in Hyderabad. Many also pointed out that Shetty spoke in Hindi during the Hindi promotions, in Tamil at the Tamil event, and in Kannada while promoting the film in his home state. In Hyderabad, however, he chose to speak in Kannada, stating that he could express himself better in his mother tongue.
Kannada event - spoken in kannada
— NAGARAJU🔯😎Pspk💪🏻 (@nagarajnaidu0) September 28, 2025
Tamil event. - spoken in Tamil
Hindi promotions- spoken in Hindi
But coming to Telugu event - kannada
What a Gudha Balupu @shetty_rishab
U should have spoken in english or at least few telugu words#Boycottkantarachapter1 https://t.co/aRtlyWaod5
That was sheer arrogance from Rishabh Shetty. He had no problem giving interviews in Hindi for promotions. He should’ve atleast tried to talk in Telugu or even went with English. You can’t take people for granted.#KantaraChapter1
— Sharat (@mudunuri_sharat) September 28, 2025
Jr NTR praises Rishab Shetty
Despite recovering from an injury, the RRR star arrived for the pre-release event, showing his love and support to the actor and the film. At the event, Jr NTR spoke heavily of Shetty and praised his vision as a director and actor. NTR began by retracing his roots and recalling how his childhood imagination had been shaped by his grandmother's stories from Kundapur. "I never imagined those stories would eventually be brought to life on a large screen. Rishab left me speechless when I watched Kantara: Chapter 1."
Jr NTR hailed Rishab's ability to be a "rare breed of actor-directors," praising his proficiency in all facets of filmmaking. “I always wondered which side of him dominated more – the actor or the filmmaker. But later I realised . If not for him, this film wouldn’t exist at this scale.” He added, "This film would not have been possible at this scale without him.”
The Telugu star also revealed visiting one of the live locations where Kantara was shot. "I got the opportunity to see firsthand how hard he worked to make 'Kantara Chapter 1'. It is not easy to make it. You must have seen it on social media. He took me to a temple near his hometown, where you have to wade through the water to reach it."
He continued, "There's no path to go to the temple there. They made one because they put up a set up there to shoot. It's humanly impossible. If it was not for Rishabh Sir, if it was not for the team that he believed it, I really don't think anything would've been possible for 'Kantara Chapter 1'."
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