Rakshit Shetty has isolated himself to script new film

Earlier this week, Ulidavaru Kandanthe (UK), one of Kannada cinema’s most trendsetting films, completed nine years since its release. The film, which marked the directorial debut of actor Rakshit Shetty, gained a cult status amongst fans. It is befitting then that Rakshit is now helming Richard Anthony, the spin-off which revolves around Richie, the iconic protagonist of UK. The actor-director had shared a teaser of the film recently, sending fans into a tizzy. “So yes, I have now fully plunged into scripting Richard Anthony,” says Rakshit, who recently finished shooting for Hemanth M Rao’s Saptha Saagaradache Ello (SSE).

‘I’ve isolated myself at home to write the script’
“I feel overwhelmed by the impact UK has had on people and how they continue to celebrate my character, Richie, even after nine years,” says the actor-director, who has disconnected himself from the rest of the world to write the script. “Writing calls for intense concentration. I’ve put my phone away and isolated myself at home to retreat into the world of Richard Anthony. I’m either reading up on the subject or make notes all the time,” Rakshit explains, adding, “And of course, now begins the process of losing all the weight I had put on for SSE.”

‘Richie’s swag might go up a few notches in the sequel’
Ask him how the script is coming along, and Rakshit quips, “The basic template for Richie was already set in UK. Yes, the swag will remain… it could also go up a few notches. But what’s the fun in revealing the characters or what fans can expect! If you watch the teaser, you can decode a few basic things. More clues are hidden in what Achyut anna (Achyut Kumar) says in it.”