Actor-director Raj B Shetty has had a busy and fulfilling year, with multiple film releases and upcoming projects, including a collaboration with his favorite director, Anurag Kashyap. Juggling shoots in Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Kerala, Raj has gained a significant fan base in Kerala after his successful film Turbo with Mammootty. He now has two more Malayalam films lined up, adding to his packed schedule. Raj describes his current phase as the busiest in his career, comparing it to being in a war zone due to constant movement. Despite the hectic schedule, Raj is fully immersed in the creative process, utilizing every minute for various projects. From producing and writing films to acting in multiple roles, Raj remains focused on his craft, balancing his time effectively. He emphasizes the importance of thorough preparation for his acting roles and utilizes breaks on set to work on other creative endeavors. Raj embraces the unpredictable nature of the film industry, believing that being open to any outcome is essential in creating quality work.Three films - Toby, Swathi Mutthina Male Haniye, and Roopanthara - received critical acclaim but underperformed at the box office. The filmmaker acknowledges that he cannot compel audiences to watch his films. He describes himself as a learner rather than an idealist, understanding that not all of his work will resonate with viewers. With the releases of Swathi... and Roopanthara, he foresaw a stronger response on OTT platforms, as theatrical audiences may not be receptive to such films. Despite Roopanthara's success, the filmmaker appreciates that creating a quality film is paramount, regardless of its commercial outcomes.

For an actor, a film's success can provide opportunities to produce and bring to life passion projects. Raj B Shetty notes the rapid pace of production in the Malayalam film industry, attributing its recent success to innovation and adaptability. Despite the current pan-India trend, Raj emphasizes the transient nature of trends and the importance of evolving to avoid pigeonholing oneself.Everyone pushing for everything to be big ultimately led to our failure. While producing big films is important, it is also time-consuming. Instead of focusing solely on big star-driven projects, there is a need for content-driven films that can sustain themselves in theaters for 4-5 weeks, generating sufficient revenue for both theater owners and filmmakers. Currently, such films are lacking in the industry.

Reflecting on his experience working with Mammootty, he shared, "Collaborating with Mammootty has been an invaluable learning experience for me. Our conversations as actors were incredibly insightful, providing me with a newfound inspiration. I gained valuable knowledge on the physical, psychological, and mental aspects of character preparation. I would describe myself as 'inspired' rather than completely knowledgeable, as learning is a continuous process. Interactions with Mammootty fueled my hunger for diverse roles."