- Full Name: Prashanth Shetty
- Stage Name: Rishab Shetty
- Date of Birth (DOB): July 7, 1983
- Age: 42 years (as of 2025)
- Net Worth: ₹80 Crore (approx. $9.6 Million USD)
- Place of Birth: Keradi village, Kundapura, Udupi district, Karnataka, India
- Nationality: Indian
- Religion: Hinduism
- Profession: Actor • Director • Writer • Producer
Upcoming Movies
| Movie | Role | Director | Release Year |
| Kantara: Chapter 1 | Actor / Director / Writer | Rishab Shetty | 2025 |
| Bell Bottom 2 (rumoured) | Actor | Jayatheertha | TBA |
| Untitled Mythological Drama (Hombale Films) | Director | Rishab Shetty | Announced 2026 |
Recent Movies
| Movie | Role | Director | Release Date |
| Kantara: Chapter 1 | Actor / Director | Rishab Shetty | 02 Oct 2025 |
| Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana | Supporting Actor | Raj B. Shetty | 2021 |
| Kantara | Actor / Director / Writer | Rishab Shetty | 30 Sep 2022 |
| Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale, Kasaragodu | Director / Producer / Writer | Rishab Shetty | 2018 |
| Kirik Party | Director / Writer | Rishab Shetty | 2016 |
Early Life and Background
Rishab Shetty was born on July 7, 1983, in the Keradi village near Kundapura in the Udupi district of Karnataka. His real name is Prashanth Shetty, and his stage name is Rishab Shetty. He was born and brought up in a middle-class Bunt family. His father’s name is Y Bhaskar Shetty is an astrologer, and his mother, whose name is Lakshmi Shetty, is a homemaker.
Right from an early age, Rishab had been drawn to the performance arts. Especially Yakshagana, which is a traditional folk theatre of the coastal Karnataka. He started performing on the village stages at the age of 10, building his connection to spirituality, myths and storytelling that is now being defined in his cinema and other movies.
Rishab Shetty completed his schooling in Kundapura and completed his graduation with a B.Com degree before moving to Bengaluru, where he later pursued an MBA in Human Resource and a Diploma in Film Direction from a government Film & Television Institute. So before stepping into the film industry, he took on several odd jobs, like selling water cans or working as a hotel receptionist while also assisting in theatre and student films.
Rise to Fame
Rishab’s movie journey began with him being behind the camera. He has worked as an assistant director on A.M.R. Ramesh’s Cyanide (2006). He took this opportunity as a learning experience in crafting visual storytelling. After being behind the camera, he made his acting debut in Tuglak in the year of 2012 and followed with a key role in Ulidavaru Kandante in 2014.
After his acting debut came his directorial debut with Ricky in the year of 2016, but his big breakthrough, or let’s say blockbuster, was the youth-oriented Kirik Party in the year of 2016 itself. This movie became a milestone in the same year and in modern Kannada Cinema.
The success of Kirik Party was followed by the critically acclaimed Sarkari Hi.Pra.Shaale, Kasaragodu in 2018, which also earned the National Film Award for the Best Children’s Film.
Then came the biggest hit of his career, Kantara in the year 2022, which made him a pan-India sensation both as an actor and a director.
Kantara and Beyond
Kantara (2022)
Rishab Shettu directed, wrote and starred in this spiritual action-drama, which found its roots in the Bhoota Kola ritual of coastal Karnataka. The film had explored the perfect balance between man, nature and divinity, which beautifully blended the local folklore with cinematic grandeur.
Kantara became one of India’s biggest success stories, which crossed INR 400 crores worldwide and also earned widespread proclaim. It was even included in the Oscars contention list of 2023 for Best Picture and Best Actor.
Kantara: Chapter 1 (2025)
A prequel to Kantara, this film moves around the origins of the Daiva and the historic rivalries that have shaped the legend. The movie was shot over 250 days, and it demanded intense physical preparation, while Rishab revealed that he had nearly escaped death many times due to the danger level of the stunts performed in the movie.
Kantara: Chapter 1 was released on October 2, 2025 and has seen a massive opening in numbers and full-house box office in several states in India, especially in South India. The movie has crossed the INR 100 crore mark within two days while cementing Rishab Shetty’s place amongst India’s top directors.
Versatility in Storytelling
While Rishab is known for his rural realism and mythological symbolism, he has shown versatility across several genres:
- Youth-drama: Kirik Party (2016)
- Social comedy: Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale… (2018)
- Mystical action: Kantara (2022) & Kantara: Chapter 1 (2025)
- Experimental cinema: Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana (2021)
His storytelling skills blend the folklore, spirituality and human emotion beautifully and making him one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Indian cinema.
Awards & Honors
- Karnataka State Film Award (2016): Best Family Entertainer – Kirik Party
- Filmfare Awards South (2017): Best Director – Kirik Party
- SIIMA Awards (2017): Best Director – Kirik Party
- National Film Award (2019): Best Children’s Film – Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale…
- OTTplay Awards (2022): Pioneering Contributions to New Wave Cinema
- SIIMA (2023): Critics Award for Best Actor (Kannada) – Kantara
- National Film Award (2024): Best Actor – Kantara
Personal Life
On the personal front, Rishab Shetty is a married man. He is married to Pragathi Shetty and tied the knot on February 9, 2017. The couple have two wonderful children, son Ranvit and daughter Raadya.
Despite all the fame and popularity Rishab has earned, he prefers to maintain a grounded lifestyle. He often returns to his village and participates in the local religious and cultural rituals and events. He has always spoken of how his roots inspire his stories, saying:
“I don’t invent folklore, I only rediscover it from the soil I was born in.”
Legacy and Influence
Rishab Shetty is the new sensation standing at the forefront of the Kannada New Wave, proving that the regional cinema can also achieve both critical acclaim and box-office success. Through Kantara, he has brought global attention to the rituals and oral traditions of Tamil Nadu.
He is regarded as the authorial filmmaker, who is often compared to the directors who merge realism with spirituality. His success has helped encourage young filmmakers to explore the native stories rather than chase the formulaic trends.
Rishab’s blend of artistic integrity, storytelling depth, and cultural pride continues to redefine Kannada and Indian cinema.
Quick Facts
- Real Name – Prashanth Shetty
- Height – 5’10” (178 cm)
- Eyes – Black Hair – Black
- Religion – Hinduism
- Favourite Actor – Jr. NTR
- Favourite Actress – Ramya
- Favourite Film – Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu (1974)
- Car Collection – Audi Q7, Skoda Fabia
- Food Habit – Non-Vegetarian
Summary
Rishab Shetty is not just any actor or filmmaker; he is a storyteller who is rooted deep in India’s soil. From Kirik Party to Kantara: Chapter 1, his journey is a full reflection of persistence, passion and pride in cultural identity. Today, he stands as one of the most influential voices in Indian cinema, blending myth with meaning and folklore with filmcraft.
