Rishab Shetty (born 7 July 1983) is an Indian actor, film director and producer who works in Kannada cinema. He is known for his roles in Bell Bottom, Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana, and Kantara franchise which was his highest-grossing directorial, and earned him the National Film Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
Shetty's acting debut was with Tuglak (2012). He next played an important role in Ulidavaru Kandante (2014) and made his directorial debut with Ricky (2016). His next directorial Kirik Party (2016) was a commercial success and fetched him Filmfare Award for Best Director, and SIIMA Award for Best Director. Later he directed Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale, Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai (2018), which got him the National Film Award for Best Children's Film and Karnataka State Film Award for Best Family Entertainer.
Early life Prashanth Shetty was born on 7 July 1983 in Keradi village in Kundapura Taluk of Udupi District, Karnataka to a Bunt family. He did his schooling in Kundapura and later joined Vijaya College, Bengaluru to pursue B.Com. He started his theatre journey by doing yakshagana plays in his hometown actively while studying in Bengaluru. He was appreciated for his work and success in these plays encouraged him to pursue acting as a profession.
Career After his graduation, Shetty worked several odd jobs like selling water cans, real estate and did hotel work while also trying for roles in movies. While working odd jobs, he also acquired a diploma in film direction from the Government Film and TV Institute in Bangalore. He started working in the film industry as a clap boy, then as a spot boy, and then was an assistant director. He met Rakshit Shetty while working in the industry, they became friends later on.
His first major acting role was in Tuglak (2012). He played a small but impactful role of a police officer in Pawan Kumar's Lucia and then played an important role in Ulidavaru Kandante, which was directed by Rakshit Shetty. In 2016, his directorial debut Ricky starring Rakshit Shetty received an average response at the box office. In the same year, he directed Kirik Party, which was an industry hit at the box office. After this, In 2018 Shetty directed and produced Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale, Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai, which received critical acclaim and won the National Film Award for Best Children's Film as well as Karnataka State Film Award.
He debuted as a lead actor in Bell Bottom (2019) which was well received. His major role after this was that of Mangaluru-based gangster Hari in the film Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana (2021). The film was a commercial and critical success in which the performance of Rishab Shetty and its director Raj B. Shetty was widely appreciated by critics.
He then appeared briefly in two films, Mishan Impossible and Harikathe Alla Girikathe (both in 2022), the former being his Telugu film debut. Shetty collaborated with Hombale Films for his next directorial Kantara in which he was also the lead actor. It was initially released only in Kannada and was later dubbed into other languages, after receiving critical success. Kantara is the second highest-grossing Kannada film of all-time worldwide and also received Swarna Kamal for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and Rishab won Rajat Kamal for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance and At the 54th IFFI 2023 he won IFFI Special Jury Award.
In 2025, he acted and directed Kantara: Chapter 1, A prequel to the 2022 film Kantara. The film became a commercial success at the box office and is currently the second highest-grossing Kannada film of all-time, second highest grossing Indian film of 2025 and also ranks among highest-grossing Indian films of all time.
Filmography
As actor
All films are in Kannada language, unless otherwise mentioned
+YearTitleRoleNotes2012TuglakVillain2013Attahasa Undercover CopLuciaPolice Inspector 2014Ulidavaru Kandanthe Raghu Gargar Mandala Dubbing artist for Adarsh 2016RickyRadhakrishna's friend2018Sarkari Hi. Pra. ShaaleInspector KemprajuAmbi Ning Vayassaytho Director of the movieCameo appearance2019Bell BottomDetective DivakaraKatha Sangama Mentally Disturbed PersonAvane SrimannarayanaCowboy KrishnaCameo appearance2021Hero [email protected] InspectorCameo appearance Garuda Gamana Vrishabha VahanaHari2022Mishan Impossible KhaleelTelugu film; Cameo appearanceHarikathe Alla GirikatheGiri and Himself Dual roles Kantara Kaadubettu Shiva and Annappa2023 Hostel Hudugaru Bekagiddare Senior Cameo appearance 2025Kantara: Chapter 1 Berme, Mayakara, Annappa and Kaadubettu ShivaFour roles
As director Year Title Notes2016Ricky Debut as directorKirik Party2018Sa.Hi.Pra.Shaale Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai2022 Kantara2025 Kantara: Chapter 1
As producer Year Title Notes2018Sa.Hi.Pra.Shaale Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai2019Katha Sangama2021 Hero Also co-writer Pedro 2022 Shivamma Yarehanchinala 2024ColorsAs presenter; TV mini series Laughing Buddha
Philanthropy On 7 July 2023, He founded the Rishab Shetty Foundation, through which he adopted a Kannada government school in Keradi and supports educational initiatives. In 2026, he participated in the launch of the International Volunteer Year (IVY) 2026 initiative.
Awards and nominations +FilmAwardCategory ResultKirik Party2016 Karnataka State Film AwardsBest Family Entertainer64th Filmfare Awards SouthBest Director – Kannada2nd IIFA UtsavamBest Director6th SIIMA AwardsBest Director – KannadaSarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale, Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai66th National Film AwardsBest Children's Film 2018 Karnataka State Film AwardsBest Family Entertainer66th Filmfare Awards SouthBest Film – KannadaBest Director – Kannada8th SIIMA AwardsBest Director – KannadaBest Film – KannadaGaruda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana10th SIIMA AwardsBest Actor – Kannada67th Filmfare Awards SouthBest Actor – KannadaShivamma YarehanchinalaThree Continents FestivalYoung Jury AwardKantara: A Legend54th International Film Festival of IndiaIFFI Special Jury Award11th SIIMA AwardsBest Director – Kannada Best Actor (Critics)68th Filmfare Awards SouthBest Director – KannadaBest Actor – Kannada70th National Film AwardsBest Actor in a Leading Role Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment Critics' Choice Film Awards Best ActorChandanavana Film Critics Academy AwardsBest ActorChittara Star AwardsBest Actor MaleBest DirectorTV9 Nava Nakshtra AwardsDivine Star AwardKantara: A Legend – Chapter 1India Business Leader AwardEntertainment Leader of the YearChittara Star AwardsBest ActorIndian National Cine Academy AwardsBest Actor (Kannada)Best Director (Kannada)Prajavani Kannada Cini SammanaActing ExcellenceExcellence in Film DirectionTV9 Nava Nakshtra AwardsBest Director & Best Actor
Other recognitions 2022: OTT Play honoured Rishab Shetty with "Pioneering Contributions to New Wave Cinema" Award and In 2023, it honoured him "Gamechanger of the Year" Award. 2025: GQ Men of the Year honoured him with "Cinematic Powerhouse" Award.
References
External links