In another mishap on the sets of Kantara: Chapter 1, actor Rishab Shetty and 30 crew members narrowly escaped an accident during filming in the Mani reservoir, located in the Masti Katte region of Karnataka’s Shivamogga district, police sources told PTI. The boat they were on capsized and toppled over in a shallow section of the reservoir, helping avert a major tragedy.
While no injuries were reported, the mishap resulted in the loss of valuable filming equipment, including cameras, which are believed to have sunk in the reservoir. The value of the lost gear has not yet been determined. An investigation has been initiated by the Thirthahalli police following their site visit.
According to theatre artist Ramadas Poojary, portraying the spirits of Dakshina Kannada on film is risky, as Bhootas and Daivas are believed to oppose the commercialisation of practices associated with them.
According to a senior crew member, there was some panic when the boat overturned, but fortunately, the shallow water helped everyone reach the shore without harm. "It shows that the spirits have blessed us in some way," the crew member added.
An official statement from Rishab Shetty regarding the incident is still awaited.
On Thursday, actor Kalabhavan Niju passes away at the age of 43 in Bengaluru, where he was shooting for the film. Reportedly, he complained of chest pain at the homestay arranged for the film's artistes and was rushed to a nearby hospital, but could not be saved, and he died of a heart attack.
Rishab also won the prestigious National Award for Best Actor for Kantara. Written and directed by Shetty, 'Kantara' became a pan-India hit in 2022. On receiving a National Award for the film, he told ANI earlier, "This has been possible because of my entire team. I am just the face of the film, it is all because of their hard work. The production house, the DOP, the technicians, it is all because of them."
He also expressed gratitude towards his fans and said, "I want to thank the people of Karnataka. I want to thank the National Awards panel for recognising this film. The people have made this film a hit, I am very happy. I want to dedicate this win to the people of Karnataka."
