Kannada actor and filmmaker Rishab Shetty, who recently won the National Award for his film 'Kantara', has sparked controversy by criticizing Bollywood for portraying India negatively at international film festivals. Shetty's comments, made during an interview with MetroSaga, have been met with backlash on social media, with critics accusing him of hypocrisy due to scenes in his own film that were considered problematic. Despite the criticism, Shetty has defended his stance, emphasizing his pride in representing his nation, state, and language positively. He is currently promoting his upcoming film 'Laughing Buddha' and working on 'Kantara: Chapter 1', set for a 2025 release.