From Ram Gopal Varma to Yash: Celebrities shower praise on Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter 1

Kantara: Chapter 1 recieves praises

Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter 1, the eagerly awaited prequel to his 2022 blockbuster Kantara, released in cinemas on October 2 and has taken the industry by storm.

Fans and celebrities alike have been full of praise for the film, which continues to dominate conversations online.

Noted filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma took to X to laud the film’s craftsmanship, writing, “KANTAAAARRRAAA is FANTAAAASTICCCC... All FILM MAKERS in INDIA should feel ASHAMED after seeing the UNIMAGINABLE EFFORT...@Shetty_Rishab and his team put in the BGM, SOUND DESIGN, CINEMATOGRAPHY , PRODUCTION DESIGN and VFX ..Forgetting the CONTENT which is a BONUS , their EFFORT alone deserves #kantarachaoter1 to be a BLOCKBUSTER .. HATS OFF TO @HombaleFilms for uncompromisingly backing the creative team and HEY @Shetty_Rishab, I can’t decide whether you are a GREATER DIRECTOR or a GREATER ACTOR...."

KANTAAAARRRAAA is FANTAAAASTICCCC .. All FILM MAKERS in INDIA should feel ASHAMED after seeing the UNIMAGINABLE EFFORT @Shetty_Rishab and his team put in the BGM, SOUND DESIGN, CINEMATOGRAPHY , PRODUCTION DESIGN and VFX ..Forgetting the CONTENT which is a BONUS , their EFFORT…

— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) October 3, 2025

Joining in, Nivin Pauly also praised the film in a birthday post for Hombale Films producer Vijay Kiragandur, saying, “What a film! Absolutely stunning...Huge congrats, @shetty_rishab & team. And Happiest birthday to the pillar behind this epic, @VKiragandur. Your vision is changing the game...@hombalefilms...#KantaraChapter1...”

What a film! Absolutely stunning...

Huge congrats, @shetty_rishab & team. And Happiest birthday to the pillar behind this epic, @VKiragandur. Your vision is changing the game. @hombalefilms #KantaraChapter1 pic.twitter.com/sWvkhwMWcs

— Nivin Pauly (@NivinOfficial) October 3, 2025

The film also received glowing words from Sandeep Reddy Vanga, director of Animal, who described it as a “cinematic thunderstorm.” On X, he wrote, “KANTARA Chapter 1 is a true MASTERPIECE INDIAN cinema has never seen anything like this before. It’s a cinematic thunderstorm, raw, divine, and unshakable. Rishab Shetty delivers a true one-man show, crafted and carried single-handedly @shetty_rishab Special mention to the BGM by @AJANEESHB."

KANTARA Chapter 1 is a true MASTERPIECE 🙏
INDIAN cinema has never seen anything like this before.
It's a cinematic thunderstorm, raw, divine, and unshakable.
Rishab shetty delivers a true one-man show, crafted and carried single-handedly 🙏@shetty_rishab
Special mention to…

— Sandeep Reddy Vanga (@imvangasandeep) October 2, 2025

Rishab humbly replied, “Thank you brother.” The mutual admiration between the two filmmakers has long been evident, with Rishab previously praising Vanga’s creative daring.

Also Read: Kantara: Chapter 1 movie review: An amazing prequel by Rishab Shetty that balances folklore with a visual spectacle

Adding to the list, KGF star Yash called the film “The New Benchmark for Kannada and Indian Cinema.” In his detailed post, he wrote, “@rishabshettyofficial, your conviction, resilience, and sheer devotion are evident in every frame… Together, you all have crafted absolutely phenomenal cinema.”

Kantara Chapter 1: The New Benchmark for Kannada and Indian Cinema. @shetty_rishab , your conviction, resilience, and sheer devotion are evident in every frame. As the writer, director, and actor, your vision translates into a truly immersive experience on screen.

Heartfelt…

— Yash (@TheNameIsYash) October 3, 2025

Produced by Hombale Films, Kantara: Chapter 1 serves as a prequel to the National Award-winning 2022 hit and has opened to an extraordinary ₹60 crore nett on its first day, against a reported budget of ₹125 crore. The film stars Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, and Jayaram, with Rukmini lauding Shetty’s meticulous direction and creative depth. She described the film’s ambitious scale — set as far back as the 4th century — as “unimaginable” in scope and authenticity.

From critical acclaim to box office triumph, Kantara: Chapter 1 has reaffirmed Rishab Shetty’s standing as one of India’s most visionary filmmakers, blending spirituality, craft, and cinematic excellence on a truly grand scale.