Kantara fame Rishab Shetty to star in a period drama by Ashutosh Gowariker

Producer Vishnu Vardhan Induri is is talks with filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker and actor-filmmaker Rishab Shetty, to create a period drama about a powerful ruler from South India.

As per a report in Bollywood Hungama, a source close to the development said, “Vishnu Vardhan Induri, who runs Vibri Motion Pictures, and who produced the two-part NTR series (2019), the Kangana Ranaut starrer J Jayalalithaa biopic Thalaivii (2021) and the much-loved sports biopic 83 (2021), will produce this ambitious saga. Like most of Ashutosh Gowariker’s films, this film is also a historical flick. It’s about one of the biggest rulers of South India who ruled the entire South region.”

The source added, "Vishnu Vardhan Induri is going all out to ensure that the film is a grand and visual spectacle. He and the whole team are excited to have Rishab Shetty on board. After the blockbuster success of Kantara (2022), Rishab has amassed a huge fan following across the country. Moreover, Ashutosh Gowariker’s forte is period films. As a result, this will be one of the films to watch out for.”

The report also says that Gowariker specifically wanted an actor from the South who could portray the journey of the character from being a rustic man to an emperor, and he felt that Shetty fit the bill perfectly.

As per the source, the shoot for the film will begin after Shetty completes work on Kantara 2. “By then, Rishab will be in the right space. It is expected to go on floors in 2024 and will release in theatres in 2025. Ashutosh Gowariker is currently working on the pre-production and getting the research correct. He will also devote his time and energy to find the right cast and crew members,” the source added.

Gowariker's last film as a director was Panipat (2019). Shetty's film Kantara made on a shoestring budget, emerged as one of the most successful films of last year.