Kantara Star Rishab Shetty Breaks Silence Amid Boycott Calls Over Language Row: Telugu, Kannada People Are...

The much-anticipated Kantara Chapter 1, directed by and starring Rishab Shetty, is set to release on October 2nd, featuring Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, and others in key roles. The film has generated

considerable excitement as a pan-India release. However, a recent promotional event in Hyderabad has sparked controversy, as Rishab Shetty chose to speak only in his native Kannada, despite the event being attended by Telugu actor Jr. NTR. This led to disappointment among Telugu-speaking fans, who voiced their displeasure on social media, even trending the hashtag #BoycottKantaraChapter1. Now, Rishab Shetty has broken his silence and addressed the controversy amud boycott calls for the film.

Rishab Shetty Addresses the Controversy

In response to the backlash, Rishab Shetty addressed the controversy during the pre-release event of Kantara Chapter 1 in Vijaywada. He explained, “Telugu people and Kannada people are brothers. Next time I come for #JaiHanuman promotions, I will speak in proper Telugu..” The actor also confssed that he is learning Telugu.In a post shared on X (formerly knwon as Twitter), the actor thanked the audience for showering love. He wrote, " Vijayawada, you were full of love & energy today Grateful for the warm welcome."

Earlier at an event, Rishab Shetty addressed the controversy during the Hindi pre-release event of Kantara Chapter 1. He explained, “I’ve always kept the Kannada language close to my heart. After doing numerous interviews, I’ve made an effort to improve my language skills. I genuinely believe that speaking the local language shows respect to the people, and I try my best. But at times, it becomes challenging, as speaking one language in one region might seem like I’m ignoring others.”ALSO READ: Kantara Chapter 1: Rishab Shetty Praises Mumbai Organisers For Pre-Release Event Amid Boycott Calls

Rishab Shetty emphasised respect for all Indian languages

He further added, “I respect all languages equally, just as much as I respect Kannada. India may have many languages, cultures, and beliefs, but the underlying values remain the same. Wherever I go, I enjoy learning the local language, and I’m always striving to do that, even with languages I’m not yet familiar with.”

About Kantara Chapter 1

Kantara: Chapter 1, set in the Kadamba period of Karnataka, tells the story of the region's cultural and architectural golden age. The film boasts one of the largest action sequences in Indian cinema, involving over 500 fighters and 3,000 people across a 25-acre rugged terrain. The film, releasing worldwide on October 2, will be available in multiple languages including Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, Bengali, and English.