Rishab Shetty REACTS To Criticism On Female Characters In Kantara Films: Can't Change Story | Exclusive

Rishab Shetty, the creator of Kantara, recently spoke about criticism regarding women’s roles in his films. He explained that while female characters are written as strong and impactful, the story itself

dictates their journey. According to Shetty, cinematic narratives often mirror society, and filmmakers can’t always alter the plot to meet expectations. Rishab Shetty REACTS To Criticism On Kantara's Female Characters In 2022, the actor-filmmaker faced criticism for a scene in which he pinched his heroine’s waist without her consent. Talking about the backlash, he exclusively told Times Now's Navika Kumar, "In it, there was Shiva’s journey, who is not just a hero but also a villain. People misunderstood him, thinking the hero is doing something wrong. I was just showing what he shouldn’t do, but is doing the opposite. He has faced a lot of negativity, but later he will reach enlightenment. The story also shows how situations lead to change.""The mother’s character was very interesting and powerful. Many people may have opinions, but we can’t change the story," pointed out Rishab.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6IGHSa0WlU

Rishab Shetty On Animal, Toxic Portrayal Of MasculinityHe also reacted to the problematic representation of women in other films, including Sandeep Reddy Vanga's controversial movie Animal. Rishab reasoned, "Stories in cinema often reflect society. Cinematic liberty allows filmmakers to recreate what we see in society. Some of it is positive, some negative. We present everything, and it’s up to the audience how they perceive it. Films can give important points and information; people take away the good, while the negativity is shown and then left behind."Meanwhile, his female lead Rukmini Vasanth backed him by saying, "In Chapter One, I think a very beautiful character was written by sir and his team. It’s a role that, as an actor, I’ve been delighted to play. It has been truly gratifying for me."She added that this role helped her grow, not just professionally but also personally.