From Tea Powder Seller to Rs 400 Crore Star: The Inspiring Journey of Kantara’s Rishab Shetty

The film industry is a land of dreams, where fortunes can change overnight, but few success stories are as dramatic and deeply rooted as that of Rishab Shetty, the man behind the global phenomenon Kantara: Chapter 1. Before helming a box-office behemoth that has grossed an estimated Rs 400 crore (and counting) worldwide, Shetty’s daily grind was far removed from the glamour of cinema. His fight for survival involved selling essential goods, a stark contrast to the millions his cinematic vision commands today.

Shetty’s journey is a powerful testament to grit and unwavering passion. In his early days in Bengaluru, while pursuing his diploma in filmmaking from the Government Film and Television Institute (GFTI), the necessity of making ends meet led him to juggle multiple odd jobs. He has candidly shared his struggles, revealing that he took on roles that included selling tea powder, mineral water bottles, and even marketing solar power products.

These humble beginnings weren’t just about financial survival; they were a formative period that instilled in him the discipline and work ethic that would later define his career. His path to the director’s chair and lead role in Kantara was a long, painstaking climb. He later moved to Mumbai, working as an office boy at a production house and even as a driver for a film producer in Andheri West, absorbing the mechanics of the industry from the ground up.

“While eating vada pav on the road near that production house, I could never have imagined I would come this far,” Shetty once reflected on his struggling days.

His persistence finally paid off with the release of the 2022 film Kantara, which became a cultural landmark and a commercial smash hit, establishing him as a pan-India force. The success of the prequel, Kantara: Chapter 1, released recently, has further cemented his legacy. This mythological action-thriller, which Shetty wrote, directed, and starred in, is reported to have crossed the Rs 400 crore mark globally, showcasing a tremendous return on his creative investment and life experiences.

The unprecedented success of the Kantara franchise—a celebration of coastal Karnataka’s folklore, culture, and the sacred ritual of Bhoota Kola—is deeply connected to Shetty’s own roots and traditional arts like Yakshagana. It is this authentic, lived-in passion, shaped by years of struggle, that has resonated with audiences globally.

Rishab Shetty’s transition from a vendor selling tea powder and water bottles to a visionary director and star who commands hundreds of crores is more than just a box-office headline. It’s an inspiring rags-to-riches saga for a new generation, proving that a relentless pursuit of a dream, even through the most challenging times, can lead to the creation of a global cinematic phenomenon.