Rishab Shetty is currently touring Bengaluru, despite his busy schedule working on his upcoming movie, the prequel of Kantara, in his hometown of Kundapura. The accomplished actor and director recently achieved great success at the 70th National Awards, winning both the Best Actor and Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment awards. This is not Rishab's first time being honored at the National Film Awards; he previously won for Best Children’s Film for directing Sarkari Hiriya Prathamika Shale Kasaragodu in 2018.

Expressing his joy at finally realizing his long-held dream of winning a national award, Rishab emphasized the significance of this achievement in his career spanning two decades. He thanked his team, the people of Keradi, and the daiva nartakas for their support and blessings.

Reflecting on the success of Kantara and the importance of providing a memorable theatrical experience, Rishab emphasized the need to create engaging content that resonates with audiences. According to him, the key to attracting viewers to cinemas lies in offering an experience that leaves them feeling satisfied and uplifted, regardless of the scale of production.