The buzz around Kantara: Chapter 1 just got bigger—Hombale Films officially revealed Rukmini Vasanth as their female lead, Kanakavathi. This prequel to the 2022 hit is once again helmed by Rishab Shetty, who’s also taking on a lead role. They made the announcement during the Varamahalakshmi festival, which naturally cranked up the hype. And yeah, that first look poster of Rukmini as Kanakavathi? It’s already making serious waves online, with fans sharing and reacting all over social media. Looks like anticipation for this mythological drama just kicked up a notch.
A Star on the Rise
Rukmini Vasanth, a familiar face in Kannada cinema, is all set to take on the role of Kanakavathi a character who, from the looks of it, hails from the Kadamba dynasty era, thanks to the film’s historical backdrop. She’s already made a mark with strong performances in films like Birbal and especially as Putti in Sapta Sagaradaache Ello, which really put her in the spotlight. Her resume keeps growing: besides hits like Baanadariyalli, Bagheera, and Bhairathi Ranagal, Rukmini’s making moves in Tamil cinema. She’s teaming up with big names like Vijay Sethupathi and Shivakarthikeyan in AR Murugadoss’s Madrasi, set to release September 5, 2025. Add to that her role in Kantara: Chapter 1, and it’s clear that Rukmini is carving out a spot as a true pan-Indian star.
A Grand Cinematic Vision
Kantara: Chapter 1 is officially in the works, and the buzz around it is huge. Hombale Films has gone all out, building a massive 25-acre set near Kundapur to recreate a mythical village straight from Karnataka’s coastal legends. Set during the Kadamba dynasty, the prequel dives into the origins of the story that made the first Kantara such a cultural phenomenon.
The film brings back powerhouse names specially Arvind S Kashyap on cinematography and B Ajaneesh Loknath scoring the music. So fans can expect some serious visual and audio fireworks. The release is locked for October 2, 2025, with a multi-language rollout: Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali, and English all lined up. Plus, Prime Video has picked up the streaming rights for a hefty sum, fueling speculation about Kantara: Chapter 1 making noise on the global stage and maybe even in the Oscar race.
The movie wrapped up after a whopping 250 days of shooting. Pretty intense, honestly. Rishab Shetty and his team finally got it all in the can, and now the promo machine’s rolling out big time. That first-look poster with Rukmini as Kanakavathi? Total buzz magnet. She’s there in this grand royal court setting, and everyone’s busy guessing queen, princess, something in between? Either way, it’s got folks talking, and the film’s hype train isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
Keywords: Kantara Chapter 1, Rukmini Vasanth, Kanakavathi, Rishab Shetty, Hombale Films, Kantara prequel, Varamahalakshmi, Kadamba dynasty, pan-India film, October 2025 release