A collage of MF Kapil and Kantara Chapter 1 poster featuring Rishab Shetty.
Credit: Special Arrangement
Kantara: Chapter 1, the prequel to the biggest hit of Kantara, is in its final schedule, and the shooting is proceeding smoothly 20 km away from Kundapur in Karnataka. Sadly, the production faced a tragic setback with the unfortunate death of junior artist MF Kapil.
Junior artist MF Kapil, who hails from Kerala, drowned in the Kollur Souparnika River on May 6. Reportedly, Kapil entered the river for a swim following the lunch break and was subsequently caught in a strong current and swept away.
An FIR has been registered at Kollur Police Station regarding this incident. Meanwhile, AICWA has demanded an impartial investigation into the tragic death of MF Kapil and asked the producers to provide financial compensation of Rs 1 crore to the bereaved family, acknowledging the immense loss they have suffered.
Adarsh JA, executive producer of Kantara Chapter 1, has reacted to this news and released a statement on behalf of the makers. The statement read, “We deeply regret the unfortunate incident and would like to respectfully clarify that it did not take place on the sets of Kantara. In fact, there was no shooting scheduled on the day the incident occurred. The incident happened during his personal trip with friends. We request everyone to kindly avoid any speculation linking it to the film.”
The Kantara: Chapter 1 team has encountered multiple setbacks during production due to unforeseen events. Earlier, a bus transporting junior artists overturned in Kollur — thankfully, without any injuries. In another incident, a costly set was damaged by unexpected wind and rain. Additionally, the crew came under scrutiny from the forest department for allegedly disturbing the natural habitat during shooting.
The last schedule of Kantara: Chapter 1 was officially kicked off near Kundapur today, and the team is filming pivotal scenes with Rishab Shetty and the rest of the cast. This is the last schedule and will mark the conclusion of the film’s shoot.
Produced by Hombale Films, Kantara: Chapter 1 is a prequel to the 2022 blockbuster hit Kantara, directed by and starring Rishab Shetty in a pivotal role. The folklore thriller is scheduled to release on October 2, 2025.