Actor Rishab Shetty's latest film Kantara Chapter 1 recently hit theatres and is already on its way to becoming a blockbuster. However, it sparked controversy after a fan dressed as Daiva and mimicked a dramatic possession scene from the film at a theatre in Tamil Nadu. In a recent interview, Rishab urged his fans to refrain from such acts. Speaking about people dressing up as Daiva in theatres, Rishab told India Today, "Ye bahot dukh ki baat hai. Us soch se humne nahi kiya hai film. Bahot bura lagta hai humko. Main aapke through unko request karta hun ki aisa nahi karo. This is cinema for us. We do it for a cinematic experience and the arc that is required in the story. But jo hum Daiva ka vichaar le ke aye hain hum, that is not cinema for us (It’s very unfortunate, because that was never our intention behind making this film. It really hurts us. Through you, I would like to request people - please don’t do such things. This is cinema for us. We do it for the cinematic experience and for the story’s emotional arc. But the concept of Daiva that we have brought into the film - that is not cinema for us)." He added, "Uska jo seriousness hai, jo Daiva nartak hai, unko humne bahot carefully show kiya hai. Usme kuch bhi idhar udhar nahi hona chahye (We have treated it with deep seriousness. The Daiva nartak (spiritual performer) has been portrayed with great care; there should be no distortion in that)." ALSO READ | Exclusive | Rishab Shetty says he was ’emotionally affected’ after Kantara Chapter 1 co-star Rakesh Poojary’s death: ‘He was like my brother’ Rishab Shetty also explained that the film’s team is always respectful while shooting scenes involving the Daiva Nartak. "Har baar vo focus me rehta hai. Har baar vo Daiva ka aashirwaad le ke hum karte hain. Lekin jo kuch log excitement me karte hain, aisa thought hota hai ki social media par viral ho jayega aisa thought hota hai, aisa mat karo (Every time, our focus remains on it. Every time, we take the blessings of Daiva before we perform. However, some people, out of excitement or in hopes of going viral on social media, do things that are inappropriate. Please don’t do that)." "Kyunki jo hum karte hain na, we all belong to that community. We worship Daiva. Udhar humare sentiments ko bahot hurt hota hai. I request you to not do it. Jo aap experience le rahe hain theatre me, vo le lo. That's it. Cinema ko cinema ke roop me dekho. Lekin jo Daiva ko hum worship kiye hain, it was very sacred (I sincerely request you. What we have created comes from our own community - we worship Daiva. When such things happen, it deeply hurts our sentiments. Please, just experience the film in theatres for what it is - as cinema. But remember, what we have shown of Daiva is sacred to us)," he concluded. Production house Hombale Films also shared a note on social which read, "To the cinephiles and the global audience, Dhaivaradhane stands as a profound symbol of faith and cultural pride within Tulunadu, the coastal region of Karnataka. Our films, Kantara and Kantara Chapter-1, were created with the purpose of respectfully portraying this devotion and celebrating the glory of the Daivas . We have strived tirelessly to ensure that the profound respect and unwavering devotion central to Dhaivaradhane were honoured, successfully spreading the significance and heritage of the Tulu soil with the world. We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming positive response. However, we have observed that certain individuals have been imitating the Daiva characters from the movie and engaging in inappropriate behaviour in public spaces and gatherings. Dhaivaradhane or Daiva worship, as featured in our film, is rooted in deep spiritual tradition and is not intended for performance or casual mimicry. Such acts amount to trivializing our belief system and deeply hurt the religious sentiments and faith of the Tulu community. Hombale Films therefore makes a strong and sincere appeal to the public and audiences to refrain from any act that involves imitating, mimicking, or trivializing the Daiva personas—whether in cinema halls or in public places. The sacred nature of Dhaivaradhane must always be upheld. We urge all citizens to recognize the spiritual importance of these portrayals and act responsibly, ensuring that the devotion we sought to celebrate is never compromised or treated lightly. We appreciate your continued support and cooperation in preserving the sanctity of this invaluable cultural heritage." Rishab Shetty's Kantara Chapter 1 also features Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, Jayaram, and Rakesh Poojari. The film has collected over Rs 300 crore in four days of its release.
