Hombale Films reacts to junior artist MF Kapil’s death, clarifies "incident did not occur on the sets of Kantara"

Kantara film junior artist MF Kapil died on Tuesday

The filming of Kantara: Chapter 1, directed by Rishab Shetty, came to a sudden stop after a heartbreaking incident occurred on May 6, 2025. A junior artist, MF Kapil, lost his life by drowning in the Souparnika river near Kollur, Karnataka.

According to reports, Kapil, who is an actor from Kerala, went to the river to bathe after lunch. Unfortunately, strong water currents swept him away. When his absence was noticed, local authorities and the forest department were informed. A search operation was launched, and his body was recovered later that evening. A case has been registered at the Kollur police station, and further investigation is ongoing.

Responding to the news, Hombale Films took to their social media for clarification. They wrote, "We are deeply saddened by the untimely passing of junior artist M.F. Kapil. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time."

The statement further added, "In light of recent discussions, we would like to respectfully clarify that the incident did not occur on the sets of Kantara. No filming was scheduled on that day, and the unfortunate event took place during his personal engagement, outside the scope of any film-related activity. We sincerely request everyone to refrain from drawing unverified associations with the film or its crew."

This is not the first trouble faced by the film’s team. In November 2024, a bus carrying several junior artists overturned in the same region. The production team had then called it a minor accident, although some reports mentioned injuries.

In January 2025, the crew again faced trouble when the forest department accused them of damaging the Sakleshpur forest during filming. The team was fined Rs 50,000 for allegedly dumping film set items and disturbing the environment.

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Kantara: Chapter 1 is the prequel to the blockbuster Kantara (2022). It features Rishab Shetty, Jayaram, Kishore, Jayasurya and Bengali actor Jisshu Sengupta. The makers have confirmed that the film will release as planned on October 2, 2025.

The untimely death of MF Kapil has left the team and fans in deep sorrow. Tributes are pouring in for the young artist, and condolences have been extended to his family. The incident has cast a shadow over what was supposed to be a smooth production for one of Kannada cinema’s most-awaited films.