Rishab Shetty’s Kantara Chapter 1, the much-anticipated prequel to his award-winning film Kantara, hit theatres on 2 October, and fans have been buzzing about one special collaboration — the Hindi version of the song “Rebel Song” (Bole Re Kantara) sung by Diljit Dosanjh.
Rishab recently shared the story behind how Diljit came on board and how their connection went far beyond just music.
In a chat with News18, Rishab confessed that although he was eager to work with Diljit, he couldn’t quite remember his name at first. “I was in Kochi for post-production and wanted a singer who spoke a different language and wasn’t from Karnataka,” he said.
“One morning, Diljit’s voice popped into my head, but I blanked on his name (laughs). I knew his powerful voice was perfect for Bole Re Kantara. After some digging, I remembered his name and spoke to my producer and composer — they were really excited about the idea.”
When Rishab finally reached out to Diljit’s team, he was pleasantly surprised by their enthusiasm. “His manager told me Diljit cancelled shows and took his whole team to rewatch Kantara. Apparently, he’s really fond of me and the film. Within just a few days, he was at YRF studios recording the song. After the recording, he asked to talk to me privately for five minutes,” Rishab recalled.
Also Read: Diljit Dosanjh shares excitement for Kantara: Chapter 1, says, "Can't Wait To Watch..."
That private moment turned out to be deeply meaningful. “Diljit shared how watching Kantara connected with his own beliefs. Woh bhi mere jaise bahot bade Shiv bhakt hai. It felt like a divine connection — like divine energy had brought him to Kantara and to me,” Rishab said softly.
Diljit himself recently shared a heartfelt post on Instagram, saying, “With Big Brother @rishabshettyofficial. Salute to This Guy Man.. Who made The Masterpiece KANTARA. I have a Personal Connection with This film which I can’t tell.. But I remember when I was watching in the theatres.. In The End when The song VARAHA ROOPAM Played I cried in so much ecstasy..”
Directed by Rishab Shetty, who also stars in the film, Kantara is deeply rooted in the rich, spiritual rituals of Bhoota Kola — a traditional spirit-worship practice of the Tulu-speaking community in coastal Karnataka.
The 2022 film was widely praised and took home two National Awards, including Best Actor for Rishab and Best Popular Film, proving just how much this story touched hearts across India.
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