The Pan India blockbuster success of Kantara catapulted Rishab Shetty to stardom in the Telugu speaking states too. And when the actor announced Kantara: Chapter 1 (in November 2023), the prequel to the Kantara, the demand for the theatrical distribution rights was at an all-time high. Directed by Rishab Shetty himself, the prequel delves deeper into the origins of the mythological tradition and ancestral conflict introduced in the first part. While the shooting of Kantara: Chapter 1 is nearing competition, the focus has turned on the distribution rights.