Rishab Shetty has started work on the next Kantara film. He told Variety India that he and his team of writers are already working on Kantara: Chapter 2. That is the clearest update so far on the third film in the franchise.
You should not expect a release date yet. No cast list has been announced for the new film. No teaser has been released. The project is at the writing stage, and Shetty has other films lined up first.
The order matters here. Shetty said he cannot multitask and do two films at the same time. He has Jai Hanuman and The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj lined up back to back. That queue pushes a full Kantara: Chapter 2 shoot further down the road.

Why the third film took this shape


Kantara started in 2022 as a Kannada film rooted in coastal Karnataka folklore. It mixed action with ritual, forest lore, and a fight over land and belief. Audiences outside Karnataka found it too, and the film grew far beyond its first release.
Kantara: Chapter 1 arrived in theatres on October 2, 2025 as a prequel. It went back to an earlier era and showed the roots of the conflict at the heart of the story. Reports put its worldwide gross above Rs 900 crore, and trade coverage called it the biggest Indian film of 2025.
The makers also signalled more story at the end of Chapter 1. Times of India coverage noted that the franchise will return for a third part, and that part was announced in the climax of the second film. That is why fans now call the next film Chapter 2, even though the numbering can confuse new viewers.
Think of it this way. The 2022 film is the first chapter for audiences. Chapter 1 is the prequel. Chapter 2 is the next step forward in the story, and it will need to answer questions left open by both earlier films.

What Rishab Shetty has said so far


Shetty spoke about his directing work in plain terms. He said he needs to do that work, and he cannot keep quiet about it. He said he finds peace of mind and happiness when he is directing.
That quote matters because Shetty directs and stars in these films. He is not just lending his face to the project. He shapes the script, the look, and the rituals on screen. When he says writing has begun, it means the core team is back in the room.
Pinkvilla reported his comments on July 7, 2026. The report also listed his acting lineup, and it made the timing clear. Jai Hanuman comes first in his acting queue, followed by the Shivaji Maharaj film. Kantara: Chapter 2 will follow that work.
Shetty also told Variety India that he wants to focus on one project at a time. That is a useful clue for fans who want a date. A writer's room can run while he shoots other films, but a full Kantara shoot needs his full attention.

What Chapter 1 set up for the sequel


Chapter 1 starred Shetty with Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, and Jayaram in key roles. The story showed a fierce conflict between forest tribes and a king, set in pre-colonial Karnataka under the Kadamba dynasty of Banavasi.
That history gives Chapter 2 a strong base. The new film can pick up threads about land, faith, and power, and it can show how those old fights echo in later times. It can also bring back the ritual scenes that made the first two films stand out.
Hombale Films produced Chapter 1, and Vijay Kiragandur backed the project. The same house built the franchise, so fans expect the same scale for the next film. Scale here means large sets, outdoor shoots in Karnataka, and music and sound built around local tradition.
The box office also raises the bar. Chapter 1 crossed Rs 900 crore worldwide in reports, and it became the seventh biggest hit of Indian cinema in some trade counts. Chapter 2 will face pressure to match that reach, and it will need a story that works in Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam.

What to watch for next


Watch for three signals. First, a formal title announcement from Hombale Films. Second, a cast update that goes beyond Shetty. Third, a start date for filming, which will tell you how far away release really is.
Until then, treat every fan made poster and date as guesswork. The only solid facts are these. Writing has begun. Shetty will direct it. His next two acting projects come first. The third Kantara film is real, but it is early.
If you loved the ritual climax of the first film, you have reason to wait. If you want a quick sequel, you should reset your hopes. This franchise moves slowly because Shetty builds each film from the script up, and he has said he will not rush that work.
Unconfirmed or reported, not stated as confirmed fact: No release date, full cast, or plot summary for Kantara: Chapter 2 has been confirmed by Hombale Films. Reports about its worldwide gross for Chapter 1 vary by trade source, and any date you see online for Chapter 2 is reported or guessed until the makers announce it.

Sources and reporting

  1. Pinkvilla — 2026-07-07 · Verifies Shetty confirming writing has begun on Kantara: Chapter 2 and his next two films.
  2. The Week — 2026-10-30 · Verifies Shetty's Shivaji Maharaj project and that script work on Kantara: Chapter 2 followed Chapter 1.
  3. Times of India — 2025 · Verifies Chapter 1 box office run and that a third part was signalled in its climax.