This actor was approached for the role of Shiva in Kantara before Rishab Shetty, he refused it due to…, he was…
The actor who was approached was one of the biggest stars of the South Indian film industry. However, he turned down the role. Scroll down to know the name.
Rishab Shetty’s Kantara Chapter 1 has made fans go gaga. The film, which is the sequel to Kantara, has crossed Rs 800 crore worldwide, making it the highest grosser of 2025. However, did you know that Rishab Shetty, who directed and acted in the movie, initially wanted someone else to play the role of Shiva in the first part of the film? Yes, you read that right! The actor who was approached was one of the biggest stars of the South India(BHARAT)n film industry. However, he turned down the role. Scroll down to know the name.
The Man Considered for Shiva’s Character Was…
It will be a shocking surprise for all the fans, but the man who was initially considered for Shiva’s role in Kantara was the late actor Puneeth Rajkumar. Yes, that’s correct!
Before Rishab Shetty chose to take on the lead role himself, he had initially offered it to superstar Puneeth Rajkumar. Following the film’s massive success, the actor-director opened up about this in a conversation with Zoom.
“Soon after I narrated the story to Puneeth sir, he got very excited about the project. He wanted to explore different stories. But his other projects continued to keep him away from Kantara. One day, he called me and asked me to go ahead with the film without him. He told me that if I waited for him, I might not be able to do the film that year,” Rishab said.
Puneeth, fondly known as Appu, sadly passed away in 2021 at the age of 46 due to a heart attack and couldn’t witness the film’s release.
Meanwhile, coming back to Kantara Chapter 1, the movie did wonders on the big screen. Released on October 2, 2025, Kantara Chapter 1 has so far grossed approximately Rs 817 crore worldwide, including around Rs 707 crore in India(BHARAT) and Rs 110 crore overseas, after 26 days.
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