During the Kantara promotions in Hyderabad, actor-director Rishab Shetty faced backlash from a few Telugu viewers for choosing to speak in Kannada instead of Telugu. At the pre-release event held on Sunday, Rishab addressed the audience in Kannada and playfully remarked, “If you don’t understand, Tarak will translate it for you.”
As Rishab isn’t fluent in Telugu, he preferred expressing himself in his native language. However, some people misunderstood his choice and criticized him online, questioning why he didn’t speak Telugu while in Telangana, especially since he often uses local languages during other promotional events.
Responding to the controversy at a press meet in Mumbai, Rishab Shetty offered a calm clarification. He said, “Kannada is my mother tongue, and I take pride in it. I think in Kannada, so it feels natural to speak it. I didn’t want to misuse another language and show disrespect. That’s why I spoke in Kannada.”
He also mentioned that he enjoys learning new languages and has been gradually improving his fluency through interviews across different regions.
With this explanation, Rishab Shetty cleared the air about the Hyderabad incident, emphasizing that his decision came from respect — not disregard — for other languages.