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Rishab Shetty condemned people making social media reels imitating the sacred Daiva ritual shown in Kantara: Chapter 1, calling it deeply disrespectful.
Kantara: Chapter 1 was released on October 2. (Photo Credit: Instagram)
Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter 1 continues to dominate conversations and break records, drawing praise for its raw, rooted storytelling and spiritual portrayal of the Buta Kola ritual. However, amid the success, the team behind the film is grappling with a growing concern which is the trivialisation of the sacred Daiva ritual on social media.
‘We’re Upset With That Mindset’
In a conversation with Hindustan Times on The Right Angle, director and lead actor Rishab Shetty opened up about how deeply hurt the team feels watching people imitate the ritual for social media content. “When you’re emotionally low, witnessing the Daiva ritual can hit harder — we call it avaahan, where you lose your external self. I understand that. But those mimicking it just to go viral… we’re upset with that mindset,” said Rishab, expressing his anguish.
The 42-year-old actor-filmmaker, who hails from coastal Karnataka, has always emphasised the spiritual essence behind the Buta Kola tradition, which forms the emotional core of Kantara.
Makers Issue a Public Appeal
The makers recently released a statement addressing the issue on social media. It read, “We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming positive response. However, we have observed that certain individuals have been imitating the Daiva characters from the movie and engaging in inappropriate behaviour in public spaces and gatherings. Dhaivaradhane or Daiva worship, as featured in our film, is rooted in deep spiritual tradition and is not intended for performance or casual mimicry. Such acts amount to trivialising our belief system and deeply hurt the religious sentiments and faith of the Tulu community.”
The statement urged people to approach the subject with respect and cultural sensitivity, reminding fans that the film’s spiritual elements are not mere entertainment.
‘These Reels Hurt Sentiments’
Rishab further elaborated, “Main Daiva ko maanta hoon, mere ghar ke hain voh, we worship them. I don’t want to be disrespectful. These reels are hurting the sentiments of people belonging to a region and its belief system. Yeh sab hota hai toh bura lagta hai. Main har baar request karta hoon logon ko.”
Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, …Read More
Shrishti Negi is a journalist with over eight years of experience in the media industry. She leads the Entertainment desk at News18.com. She writes breaking news stories, generates feature ideas, edits copies, … Read More
October 17, 2025, 23:33 IST
