Rishab Shetty Gets Rs 80 Cr: Tollywood Stars Losing Sleep?

There was a time when Kannada cinema did not carry strong nationwide appeal. Many people believed that Kannada films were mostly remakes and made on low budgets, and that perception stayed for years. However, movies like KGF and Kantara completely erased that image. These films proved that the Kannada industry can also produce large scale, high budget cinema with strong content and technical brilliance.

After this transformation, big budget projects started becoming common in Kannada cinema. Hero remunerations also increased dramatically. Actors like Yash and Rishab Shetty emerged as new age superstars. Their market value rose beyond expectations. Yash’s career changed completely after KGF. Reports say that he received nearly Rs. 50 crores for KGF Chapter 2 and around Rs. 75 crores for Toxic.

Now, Rishab Shetty has reached the same level. Industry buzz suggests that he demanded close to Rs. 80 crores for Prasanth Varma’s Jai Hanuman. At the same time, another Tollywood banner is producing a film with Rishab, directed by Ashwin Gangaraju. Reports say Rishab asked for a similar remuneration for this project as well.

After Kantara, Rishab Shetty gained pan India recognition. The sequel, Kantara Chapter 1, is said to have generated business worth nearly Rs. 300 crores even before release. This massive response directly doubled Rishab Shetty’s market value.

Rishab Shetty also built a strong fan base in the Telugu states after Kantara. His films are opening to impressive numbers, which makes Telugu producers ready to meet his salary demands. The budget of Jai Hanuman is expected to exceed Rs. 200 crores, and his other projects are also high budget films. Among these, Jai Hanuman is likely to go on floors first.

If even one of these films becomes a solid hit, Rishab Shetty could soon enter the Rs. 100 crore remuneration club. If that happens, he will create history as the first Kannada actor to receive Rs. 100 crores as remuneration, marking a huge milestone for Kannada cinema.

Because of Rishab’s entry into Tollywood, many star heroes might lose their sleep. He is a genuine performer with strong acting skills and pan India potential, which many Tollywood stars lack. A Kannada hero coming out of nowhere and grabbing big projects along with Rs. 100 crores as remuneration may not sit well with many Tollywood stars.