Rishab Shetty, the powerhouse of Kannada cinema, turned 42 today (7 July), and he’s gifted fans a thrilling surprise — the first look poster of his highly anticipated film ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’. With a blazing weapon in hand and rage in his eyes, Shetty is seen in a fierce, raw, and primal avatar that has already set social media abuzz.

Prequel to the 2022 Blockbuster ‘Kantara’

‘Kantara: Chapter 1’ serves as the prequel to Shetty’s 2022 superhit Kantara, which stunned the Indian film industry with its storytelling, cultural richness, and box office storm. The original film, made on a modest ₹16 crore budget, raked in over ₹400 crore worldwide, rewriting the playbook for regional cinema’s reach.

Poster Release: A Glimpse into the Legend

The makers shared the powerful poster with the caption:

“Where legends are born and the roar of wild animals echoes. Kantara - The prequel to the brilliant film that influenced millions. Wishing a divine and glorious birthday to the power behind it, Rishab Shetty.”

Fans and film lovers are already hailing it as a potential visual spectacle rooted in folklore and mysticism — much like its predecessor.

Release Date Confirmed: 2 October 2025

Even before today’s poster reveal, the makers had locked the release date for 2 October 2025. Taking to social media earlier in May, they had written:

“We are on the right track and everything is going according to plan… Trust us, it will be worth the wait.”

Releasing in 7 Languages

Taking the franchise global, ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’ will release in 7 languages, including:

• Kannada

• Hindi

• Telugu

• Tamil

• Malayalam

• Bengali

• English

Each language will have its own version of the poster, signaling a massive pan-India and global push.

Why the Hype?

• Rishab Shetty is back as director and lead actor, a combination that worked magic the last time.

• The poster hints at an intense origin story steeped in local mythology, deities, and spiritual warfare.

• The October 2025 release gives it a long runway for hype, promotion, and a possible festival-weekend box office blast.