Premium

Exclusive | Rishab Shetty says he was ’emotionally affected’ after Kantara Chapter 1 co-star Rakesh Poojary’s death: ‘He was like my brother’

In an exclusive interview Rishab Shetty remembered late Rakesh Poojary who died while Kantara Chapter 1 was under production.

Kantara actor Rishab Shetty on Rakesh Poojary demise

Rishab Shetty on co-star Rakesh Poojary demise (Photos: Rishab Shetty, Rakesh Poojary / Instagram)

Rishab Shetty’s popular Kannada film Kantara Chapter 1 is all set to release on October 2. The film has been shot at live locations over 250 days, and Rishab has spent 5 years bringing these two projects to life. During the shooting of Kantara’s second installment, three artists from the film died, and that created a negative narrative around Rishab Shetty’s directorial. Now, in an exclusive interview with SCREEN, Rishab Shetty spoke about losing the three artistes. He also remembered the late Rakesh Poojary and said he was like a brother to him.

Talking about the negative narrative around the film, Rishab Shetty said, “I am an actor and a director, but I don’t have fan associations; I don’t have the fanbase to trend on Twitter. I am alone, working with my team. I don’t know how to set a narrative, and I am not interested either. If someone thinks anything’s wrong, it’s okay. I put more energy into work. We got this message about a negative narrative set around the film after 2-3 days, we were not in the network; we were shooting inside a forest. ”

Also Read: Kantara Chapter 1 actor Rakesh Poojary dies of heart attack at 33, collapsed during a mehendi ceremony: report

Speaking about the deaths, he said, “Definitely it’s a huge loss, but we cannot connect it to the film. It’s about human life, out of the three people we lost, two were junior artists, one of them had not even reached our set, he was on the way when he had some health issues, and later we got to know he had a heart attack. We sent the manager there to take him to the hospital and get the post-mortem and other formalities sorted.”

Rishab said that the second death didn’t happen on the set. “There was another man from Kerala, I remember his face, it was a night shoot, and his accident didn’t happen on our set. We were rehearsing in another town, there was a temple, and a river was close by. There was a board that said it was an accident-prone area, but youngsters want to explore; he went there, and the accident happened. He had shot with me multiple times,” Rishab Shetty said.

Also Read | This Kannada actor sold water cans before his film debut; one of the country’s biggest stars now, the prequel to his pan-India sensation is set for release

Talking about Rakesh Poojary’s demise, the Kantara actor fondly remembered his co-star and said, “Rakesh Poojary’s loss was huge; he has played a prominent character in the film. He was with me for many days and was like my brother. He was very committed right from the time of rehearsals. I never saw someone who was so positive. Good people leave us soon; that’s what happened. I was not able to digest his loss. I had planned to work more with him; he was a great artiste, and his loss affected us emotionally.” Rakesh Poojary had died of a heart attack 15-20 days after he wrapped up shooting for Kantara Chapter 1. He was attending a friend’s wedding when the unfortunate incident happened.

With three artists losing their lives when the film was in production, a narrative on social media emerged that Kantara Chapter 1 was jinxed. Talking about the same, Rishab added, “Outside, a negative narrative got set about Kantara – a lot of people said a lot of things. It’s their perspective. Rakesh had gone home 15-20 days after completing the shoot. I took a risk that time; there was a possibility of the film getting negative publicity, and our team was constantly in touch with the media. But we got saved, god was blessing us. Just one thing surfaced on social media, and many assumptions came up then.”

Story continues below this ad

Kantara Chapter 1 will be released in multiple languages across India.

Nawaz Javed Kochra

Nawaz Javed Kochra is a seasoned entertainment journalist at The Indian Express Online, bringing nearly a decade of expertise to the forefront of cultural reporting. With a focus on the television and Over-The-Top (OTT) landscapes, he has established himself as a prominent voice in the industry, known for his high-profile celebrity interviews and insightful coverage of the Indian entertainment sector. Experience & Career Nawaz holds a Master of Arts in Communication and Journalism from Mumbai University, providing him with a rigorous academic and ethical foundation. In his 11-year career, he has navigated through several of India's leading media houses, building a portfolio that spans digital, print, and broadcast media: The Indian Express: Currently leads coverage of TV and OTT content, producing both written analysis and popular video interview segments. Former Roles: He began his career at the iconic Stardust Magazine and later held key positions at Zoom TV, Zee Multimedia, MissMalini, Bollywood Bubble, and Raindrop Media. Expertise & Focus Areas Nawaz’s beat is characterized by a blend of exclusive access and trend analysis. His core areas of expertise include: Reality Television: Specialized coverage of major franchises like Bigg Boss, providing behind-the-scenes insights and winner profiles. OTT Ecosystem: Tracking the shift from traditional cable to digital streaming platforms, with a focus on web series and digital premieres. Celebrity Profiles & Interviews: Nawaz is celebrated for his ability to foster candid conversations with industry stalwarts, from music composers like Amaal Mallik to other TV legends. Investigative Entertainment News: Reporting on sensitive industry developments, including legal disputes and personal stories of resilience within the acting community. Authoritativeness & Trust With a reputation built on years of networking and credible reporting, Nawaz Kochra is a "known face" in the Mumbai media circuit. His work at The Indian Express adheres to the publication's "Journalism of Courage" standard, ensuring that even entertainment reporting is approached with accuracy, sensitivity, and transparency. His educational background and extensive tenure across diverse media platforms provide him with the authoritative perspective required to analyze the rapid evolution of Indian show business. ... Read More

Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.