A tragic incident reportedly took place on the sets of Kantara Chapter 1 after a junior artiste named MF Kapil drowned in the Souparnika River in Kollur. The shoot was halted after this incident, which occured after the deceased went into the river for a swim but couldn’t survive due to strong current.
As per report by News18 Kannada, local authorities, fire and rescue teams began searching for him after they were alerted. They found his body in the evening and an investigation is currently underway.
The movie was earlier in the news after it reportedly received backlash for allegedly creating a disturbance in the forest area. According to a report by India Today, the team of Kantara: Chapter 1 is currently filming in the forest area of Gavigudda, Heruru village in Karnataka. The locals reportedly accused the crew of causing damage to the environment as the explosives have been allegedly used during the shoot.
The outrage was caused because the forest area is home to several wildlife species. Former Zilla Panchayat member Sanna Swamy also expressed his anger over the shoot and said, as per India Today, “Farmers are already struggling with wild elephant attacks. Despite the Supreme Court’s directive to protect forests, officials have been negligent. Immediate action must be taken to prevent further damage.”
The reports also claim that a youngster from the area was allegedly attacked by the crew during the altercation and was admitted to Crawford Hospital in Sakleshpur with injuries. The locals also demanded the filming be shifted to another location after this incident. As per India Today, they also threatened action against the team and said that they will file a petition in the High Court if their concerns are not addressed.
‘Kantara Chapter 1’, starring Rishab Shetty, will release in theatres on October 2, 2025.
