Bengaluru: Actor-director Rishab Shetty, who became a pan-India sensation following the success of ‘Kantara’, is set to collaborate with acclaimed Malayalam filmmaker Chidambaram S Poduval for a new Kannada film.
Rishab, who earned the title of ‘Divine Star’ among his fans after the success of ‘Kantara’, has expanded his presence beyond Kannada cinema and is currently involved in projects across the Hindi and Telugu film industries.
While the actor is busy with his existing commitments, details of a new collaboration with one of Malayalam cinema’s prominent contemporary directors have now emerged.
Rishab and Chidambaram join hands
Malayalam filmmaker Chidambaram S Poduval, known for films including ‘Jan.E.Man’ and ‘Manjummel Boys’, is set to work with Rishab Shetty.
Chidambaram gained widespread recognition with ‘Manjummel Boys’, which went on to receive acclaim across India. His filmmaking has helped establish him as one of the notable emerging voices in Malayalam cinema.
According to a report by Cinema Express, Rishab and Chidambaram are planning to collaborate on two separate projects.
The first project will be a Kannada-language sports drama and is expected to be mounted on a large scale.
Sports drama to begin production next year
The upcoming Kannada film will be produced by Shibu Thameens, who has backed several projects through his production banners Thameens Films and HR Pictures.
Pre-production work for the Rishab Shetty-Chidambaram project has already commenced, with the team reportedly planning to begin shooting early next year.
While specific details about the story, Rishab’s character and the remaining cast have not yet been revealed, the combination of the ‘Kantara’ actor and the ‘Manjummel Boys’ director has generated considerable interest.
Sources cited in the report said further details about the big-budget project are expected to be announced in the coming days.
The film will bring together talent from Kannada and Malayalam cinema, while its sports-drama setting could offer Rishab another opportunity to explore a different genre following his work in folklore, action and drama.
Shibu Thameens behind the project
Producer Shibu Thameens has experience backing films in both Malayalam and Tamil cinema.
His production credits include Malayalam films such as ‘ABCD: American-Born Confused Desi’, ‘Jack Daniel’ and ‘Mura’. His Tamil film credits include projects such as ‘Puli’, ‘Iru Mugan’ and ‘Veera Dheera Sooran’.
His collaboration with Chidambaram and Rishab is expected to result in a technically ambitious production, although the makers have yet to officially announce several details of the project.
The proposed sports drama will be Chidambaram’s next major collaboration outside Malayalam cinema and marks another step in the growing exchange of talent between regional film industries.
Rishab currently busy with Telugu and Hindi projects
Rishab Shetty is currently working on ‘Jai Hanuman’, the Telugu film directed by Prasanth Varma. He is expected to take up the Chidambaram project after completing his existing commitments.
The actor is also set to appear in the Hindi film ‘Shivaji’, adding to his expanding pan-India portfolio.
Rishab’s career has undergone a significant transformation since ‘Kantara’, which established him as an actor and filmmaker with a strong presence beyond Karnataka. His subsequent projects in Hindi and Telugu have further strengthened his position in the national film landscape.
For Chidambaram, the collaboration represents an opportunity to enter Kannada cinema with a project featuring one of the industry’s most prominent pan-India stars.
With pre-production already underway and filming expected to begin early next year, more information about the sports drama, including its title, cast and release plans, is likely to emerge once the makers make an official announcement.