From Reel to Real Grief: Kantara 2 Shoot Stalls After Drowning in Kollur River

Kantara 2, the much-anticipated film, could only halt its filming at the end of Tuesday morning, May 6th, following the death junior artist, MF Kapil. Kapil, who family did not disclose about his contractual obligations, was a crew member who drowned in the Kollur Souparnika River in Karnataka after he decided to take a bath during a lunchtime break.

Heavy currents allegedly swept him off while he was in the river, based on a report by news18. His body was subsequently retrieved that night despite an instant search and rescue mission conducted by the fire department and the authorities.

Since this mishap brought enormous sorrow, a case has already been registered in the Kollur police station, and it is being investigated. While the crew coped with the unforeseen tragedy, the shoot had to be paused temporarily.

The Kantara production team has faced challenges on the sets during shooting earlier as well. Fortunately, no one was injured when a bus in which young artists were traveling skidded over and turned over in Kollur earlier. Moreover, the team was under investigation by the forest department for allegedly disrupting the natural environment while shooting, and unseasonal, harsh weather conditions destroyed a big, expensive set.

The film producers went to Instagram to assure everyone that the release date remains intact despite rumors circulating that there might be a delay. The promised release date of the film is October 2, 2025.

Rishab Shetty along with the team began filming the last schedule for Kantara: Chapter 1 starting on May 7, 2025. The crew has rehearsed a major battle scene at the location, approximately 20 kilometres from Kundapur, Karnataka.