Rakshit Shetty’s Richard Anthony to take off in August?

Rakshit Shetty has directed all of one film, but that one project – Ulidavaru Kandanthe – was enough to make the right impression on Kannada film audiences. It’s been nine years since the release of that film and his fans have been waiting eagerly on word of his next directorial. Rakshit, who has been talking about multiple subjects that have caught his fancy, like Punyakoti, Midway to Moksha and even the Kirik Party sequel, announced his return to the director’s chair with Richard Anthony, a film that will serve as a prequel and sequel to the events of Ulidavaru Kandanthe from the perspective of its leading man, Richie.

Rakshit, who has been in the process of shedding all the weight he’d gained for Hemanth Rao’s Sapta Sagaradaache Ello, is set to spend the next month, at least, in seclusion in the USA, where he hopes to give finishing touches to the final draft of Richard Anthony. The film is being bankrolled by Hombale Films and has been announced as a pan-India project, so, even though Rakshit has said that some characters from the original will return, he is likely to include cast members who will appeal to a national audience. Rakshit’s already got one foot in with this audience, thanks to last year’s 777 Charlie, which was well received across the nation.

In earlier interactions with the media, Rakshit had said that he was hoping to go on floors with the film in January this year, but then his commitment on Sapta Sagaradaache Ello was not complete, which finished only by late March. Speaking to reporters earlier today, Rakshit said that he is in pre-production of Richard Anthony and that he will go on floors with the film soon after Sapta Sagaradaache Ello’s release, which is currently tentatively set for July 28. An August muhurtha looks likely for the film, but then it will depend on how successful Rakshit’s US mission is, as he is expected back in the country to promote Hemanth’s movie.

In the meantime, should you want to revisit the original, it is available to stream on Jio Cinema and YouTube.