Rishab Shetty urges fans not to dress as Daiva during ‘Kantara Chapter 1’ screenings: 'It hurts our sentiments'

Rishab Shetty urges fans not to dress as Daiva

Kantara actor and filmmaker Rishab Shetty has made a heartfelt appeal to his fans — asking them not to dress up as Daiva while watching Kantara Chapter 1 in theatres.

In a recent interview with India Today , the actor said that such actions not only hurt his sentiments but also those of the community that worships Daiva.

Recently, several videos surfaced on social media showing people walking into theatres dressed as Daiva, the divine entity central to the Kantara universe. While some thought it was a tribute, Rishab Shetty believes it crosses a sacred boundary.

“Definitely. Ye bahot dukh ki baat hai. Us soch se humne nahi kiya hai film. Bahot bura lagta hai humko. Main aapke through unko request karta hun ki aisa nahi karo,” said Rishab Shetty. “This is cinema for us. We do it for a cinematic experience and the arc that is required in the story. But jo hum Daiva ka vichaar le ke aaye hain, that is not cinema for us.”

("Definitely. It’s very unfortunate, because that was never our intention behind making this film. It really hurts us. Through you, I would like to request people - please don’t do such things. This is cinema for us. We do it for the cinematic experience and for the story’s emotional arc. But the concept of Daiva that we have brought into the film - that is not cinema for us.")

After the screening of Kantara Chapter 1 at a cinema in Dindigul, a fan dressed as a Daiva stunned the audience there.

What A Divine Moment🔥pic.twitter.com/8MTWGkJhT0

— The Jaipur Dialogues (@JaipurDialogues) October 5, 2025

“DAIVA IS NOT A COSTUME — IT’S SACRED”

The Kantara Chapter 1 actor explained that while the film draws inspiration from divine traditions, certain elements — especially Daiva — are too sacred to be mocked or commercialised.

“Uska jo seriousness hai, jo Daiva nartak hai, unko humne bahot carefully show kiya hai. Usme kuch bhi idhar udhar nahi hona chahiye,” he added, stressing that the team had treated the portrayal with “deep seriousness.”

("We have treated it with deep seriousness. The Daiva nartak (spiritual performer) has been portrayed with great care; there should be no distortion in that.")

Rishab Shetty further explained that his team always takes spiritual blessings before shooting such scenes. “Har baar vo focus me rehta hai. Har baar vo Daiva ka aashirwaad le ke hum karte hain. Lekin jo kuch log excitement me karte hain... social media par viral ho jayega aisa thought hota hai, aisa mat karo,” he said.

("Every time, our focus remains on it. Every time, we take the blessings of Daiva before we perform. However, some people, out of excitement or in hopes of going viral on social media, do things that are inappropriate. Please don’t do that.")

“CINEMA KO CINEMA KE ROOP ME DEKHO”

The actor also mentioned that watching fans mimic Daiva for attention on social media deeply hurts his community’s faith.

“Kyunki jo hum karte hain na, we all belong to that community. We worship Daiva. Udhar humare sentiments ko bahot hurt hota hai,” Rishab Shetty said. “I request you to not do it. Jo aap experience le rahe hain theatre me, vo le lo. That's it. Cinema ko cinema ke roop me dekho. Lekin jo Daiva ko hum worship kiye hain, it was very sacred.”

In his concluding note, Rishab Shetty reminded fans that Kantara may be cinema, but the spiritual roots it draws from are real and revered. As Kantara Chapter 1 expands the mythological depth of the universe, the actor hopes the audience will engage with it respectfully — as an art form, not as an act of imitation.

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FAQs

Q1: Why did Rishab Shetty request fans not to dress as Daiva?
A: Because Daiva is a sacred tradition, and such acts hurt community sentiments and distort its spiritual essence.

Q2: What is Daiva in the context of Kantara?
A: Daiva refers to divine entities worshipped in coastal Karnataka, central to Kantara’s story and cultural inspiration.

Q3: What does Rishab Shetty want fans to do instead?
A: He has asked fans to enjoy the film purely as cinema and not to imitate or mock sacred traditions.