Kantara’s incredible success has made Rishab Shetty one of the most popular actors in the whole country. With popularity across the country and an expanding fan following, Shetty is currently at the top of Indian cinema’s current crop, as he is getting bigger and bigger and more ambitious roles.. Recent buzz is that he might soon take on one of the greatest rulers in South Indian history — the legendary Sri Krishnadevaraya.
“According to the sources,” the top actor, Rishab Shetty, is a strong contender for the leading role in a mega-budget historical drama that is apparently about the life of the great Vijayanagara emperor. It is a project being supervised by well known veteran filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker, experienced in making big period films (Lagaan, Jodhaa Akbar, Panipat, Mohenjo Daro) etc. It’s said that the script is still being worked on and an official announcement is expected.
If this project gets greenlit, it will be Gowariker’s return to directing after a break and feature Rishab Shetty in a kingly, larger-than-life role. Fans across the country are already buzzing with excitement and hoping that they can see a mighty project that culminates with another movie milestone.
The tale of Sri Krishnadevaraya, perhaps the most revered of all Indian kings, is history and culture of great significance. Very few actors have ventured into this grand role over the years. Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR) had a memorable stint in Mahamantri Timmarusu, Balakrishna played him in Aditya 369, and Srikanth depicted the emperor in Devaraya. Even as some performances became etched in people’s minds, a few did not find favor with the audience.
Now that Rishab Shetty’s name is tagged with the character, one expects a lot. A person known for intense acting and dedication to story-telling, Shetty appears to be the right choice to put a new thrust into the role of Sri Krishnadevaraya.
At the same time, the actor is busy with big ticket projects. He is working on Kantara Chapter 1, where he plays Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in another period piece drama, and also will likely feature in the highly anticipated sequel of HanuMan.
With a line of ambitious projects in the pipeline, Rishab Shetty’s ascension to the top in Indian cinema refuses to take a breather. If the Sri Krishnadevaraya biopic gets made, it would be among the most eagerly-awaited historical dramas in the recent past.