Rishab Shetty

Rishab Shetty, born on 7 July 1983 as Prashanth Shetty, is a versatile Indian actor, director, producer, and screenwriter who primarily works in Kannada cinema. He hails from Keradi village in the Udupi district of Karnataka, where he grew up surrounded by theatre and traditional Yakshagana performances. After completing a B.Com degree, he pursued a diploma in film direction and began his journey in cinema by working in various behind-the-scenes roles. He made his acting debut with the Kannada film Tuglak (2012) and gained recognition with his performance in Ulidavaru Kandanthe (2014).

Alongside acting, Rishab Shetty established himself as a strong filmmaker with Ricky (2016) and achieved massive success with Kirik Party (2016), which became a blockbuster and cemented his position as a leading director. He rose to pan-India fame with the critically and commercially acclaimed Kantara (2022) and its prequel Kantara: Chapter 1 (2025), which he wrote, directed, and starred in. His performance in Kantara earned him the National Film Award for Best Actor. Known for blending folk traditions with mainstream storytelling, Rishab Shetty is admired for his culturally rooted filmmaking, grounded lifestyle, and deep connection to his roots, inspiring audiences across India.