Behind the scenes: The hardship and dedication behind ‘Kantara: Chapter 1's climax

Mumbai: While audiences loved Rishab Shetty in 'Kantara: Chapter 1', the Sandalwood star has revealed the intense physical and creative challenges he faced during the making of the film.

On Monday, Shetty posted on Instagram showing his swollen leg, sustained while shooting the climax sequence. He wrote that he completed the shoot despite exhaustion, adding, “This was during the climax shoot, a swollen leg, an exhausted body, but today, the climax has become something that millions watch and admire. This was only possible through the blessings of the divine energy we believe in.

Heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported us.”

Shetty also discussed the painstaking process of finalising the screenplay for the prequel. In an exclusive interview with IANS, he revealed that it took 15–16 drafts to achieve the final screenplay, ensuring every theme and narrative thread was included.

When asked if it was seven to eight drafts, he clarified, “No, I think 15–16 drafts. Yes, it is almost a 15–16 narration. So, I would say those 15–16 were narration drafts.”

Reflecting on the first part of Kantara, Shetty said it was simpler: “In the first part, we didn’t write many drafts. We wrote 3–4 drafts, finished writing in 3–4 months, and went straight to shooting. It was very simple. When we did the prequel, we started the discussion from Shiva’s father’s story. We finished that script, and the bound script was ready. Later, we realised the first part needed a backstory, so we decided to go back a little, keep it as a beginning, and not just as a legend. Once we finished, it became a full script — a complete backstory that couldn’t be told in a small part.”

IANS