How Rishab Shetty Handles Negative Reviews — Their Mental Toolkit — resilience strategies

How Rishab Shetty Handles Negative Reviews: A Toolkit for Resilience

People often criticise his work or his public statements. How does Rishab Shetty keep his mind strong amidst all the negativity? He seems to have a clear mental toolkit for resilience.

Respecting All Opinions, But Focusing on the Story

Rishab Shetty has been open about the criticism he has faced. He faced strong backlash for a scene in Kantara where his character, Shiva, was seen pinching his female co-star’s waist. He also faced criticism for only speaking Kannada at a promotional event in Hyderabad, disappointing Telugu fans.

When discussing the criticism about the female characters in his films, Rishab Shetty’s main point is simple: “Cinema reflects society.” He says that stories on screen often show what we see in the real world. This can be positive or negative. He feels a filmmaker can’t change the entire story just to meet every expectation.

He has also explained that the actions of his character, Shiva, in Kantara were part of a journey. Shiva was shown as a flawed person, even a “villain” at times. The negative things he did were meant to show what he shouldn’t do.

Later, the character grows and changes, reaching a form of “enlightenment.” The story’s demand comes first for Rishab Shetty.

Drawing Strength from Culture and Language

Another key part of Rishab Shetty’s resilience is his deep pride in his language and culture. This pride acts as his foundation.

When he was criticised for speaking only in Kannada at an event, he did not get angry. Instead, he simply explained his position. He said, “I am a proud Kannadiga.” He believes that if he is proud of his own language, he will naturally respect all other languages equally. He said his thoughts and feelings often start in Kannada, and he wants to speak from his heart.

Later, he showed respect by promising to learn Telugu better for his next promotion. This shows his approach: stay true to your roots, but also show respect to others. He said he has taken a lot of inspiration from every film industry, including Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Hindi. He does not disrespect anyone, even those who criticise him. He believes everyone has their own perspective.

The Importance of Open Discussion

Rishab Shetty also seems to believe that healthy debate is a good thing. He is fine with people debating and discussing the themes in his movies. For instance, he asserted that in Kantara, the character of the mother had a very important and powerful role. He considers the mother as a “superior energy” like the divine spirit in the film.

He understands that people will have opinions. He states, “But that’s their perspective, and I won’t disrespect them.” He knows he cannot please everyone. By welcoming discussions, he shows that he is confident in his work and its cultural themes.

This mindset helps him not to be too affected by the negativity. He focuses on his work, his dedication to his land’s folklore, and letting the story speak for itself. His resilience comes from his belief in his story and his culture.