Kantara Chapter-1' makers fined ₹50,000

SHOOTING of Kannada film Kantara Chapter-1, the prequel to 2022 blockbuster Kantara, promoting forest protection and human and wildlife co-existence, has come under the forest department's scanner with the production house Hombale Films being slapped with a fine of Rs 50,000 for illegally dumping film set items into Sakleshpur forest before starting ongoing shooting from January 7-25.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Bengaluru

The film unit has also been accused of blasting and axing of trees, during the shooting of the film directed by Rishab Shetty, who is also starring in it. The shooting is going on in the deemed forest patch of Yaslur, Sakleshpur forest, survey number 131.

Hassan Conservator of Forests, V Yedukondalan told The New Indian Express, before the film unit was given permission, they had dumped material inside the forest. This is equivalent to trespassing, and under the Karnataka Forest Act, they have been penalised Rs 50,000. A few days later film shooting started.