After the phenomenal success of Kantara, Rishab Shetty has transformed from a Kannada star into a genuine pan-India name. The actor won the National Award, earned nationwide recognition, and suddenly found himself carrying the expectations of audiences across multiple languages.
Now, the most important phase of his career is about to begin.
According to reports, The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has expanded into a two-part saga. Mounted on a reported budget exceeding Rs. 500 crore, the films are expected to release in 2028 and 2029 respectively, making them among the biggest historical projects currently being planned in Indian cinema.
Before that, Rishab Shetty will also be seen as Lord Hanuman in Jai Hanuman, directed by Prasanth Varma, another large-scale project carrying massive expectations.
On paper, the lineup looks extraordinary.
But it also comes with enormous risk.
Unlike many stars who balance their filmography with commercial entertainers, thrillers, romantic dramas, and experimental films, Rishab appears to be placing several years of his career almost entirely on mythology, history, and cultural icons.
Playing Lord Hanuman and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj means portraying two of the most revered figures in Indian culture and history. Audiences do not judge such films purely on entertainment value. They come with emotional, cultural, political, and historical expectations.
That creates tremendous pressure on both the actor and the filmmakers.
There is also another reality. Right now, Rishab Shetty’s market is still heavily driven by the goodwill created by Kantara. The coming years will reveal whether audiences are showing up specifically for Rishab Shetty or for the unique world and storytelling of Kantara.
A successful Jai Hanuman followed by a successful Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj franchise could elevate Rishab into the top league of pan-India stars. Very few actors get the opportunity to headline projects of this scale back-to-back.
However, the director of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is reportedly Sandeep Singh, who is a relatively new director and has not yet delivered a film of this scale. It remains unclear whether he can handle a project of this magnitude with confidence and consistency. Yes, Rishab Shetty might ghost-direct a few portions, but ultimately it will be a Sandeep Singh film, which could become the project’s biggest challenge.
If one of these films fails to meet expectations, questions will naturally emerge about whether the industry placed too much faith in one blockbuster phenomenon.
Over the next four years, Rishab Shetty will not simply be releasing movies. He will be attempting to prove whether he can evolve from the hero of one historic blockbuster into a long-term pan-India superstar capable of carrying out some of the biggest projects in Indian cinema.
