Last Updated:January 10, 2026, 21:00 IST

Vivek Oberoi reacts as Kantara Chapter 1 qualifies for the Best Picture category at the Oscars 2026, praising Rishab Shetty for taking Bhuta Kola to the global stage.

Vivek Oberoi congratulated Rishab Shetty and the team of Kantara: Chapter 1 after the film qualified for the Best Picture race at the 98th Academy Awards, calling Bhuta Kola a global phenomenon.

The Academy has officially unveiled the list of 317 feature films eligible for consideration at the 98th Academy Awards. As per the Academy’s press release, 201 of these titles qualify for the prestigious Best Picture category. Among them are four Indian films that have made the cut: Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter 1, Anupam Kher’s Tanvi The Great, M. Sasikumar’s Tourist Family, and the animated epic Mahavatar Narasimha.

Vivek Oberoi Hails Kantara: Chapter 1’s Oscar journey

Reacting to Kantara: Chapter 1 entering the Best Picture eligibility race, actor Vivek Oberoi congratulated Rishab Shetty and the entire team with a powerful message on X (formerly Twitter). Calling the moment historic, Oberoi wrote that what once existed as a sacred ritual rooted in the soil of Tulunad has now found resonance on the world’s biggest cinematic platform.

“What was once a sacred ritual, guarded by the ancient spirits of Tulunad, has now erupted into a global inferno,” he wrote. “Bhuta Kola has transcended borders, shattering the silence to become a worldwide phenomenon.”

Extending his congratulations to Shetty, Oberoi added, “This isn’t just a nomination; it is the roar of our ancestors echoing on the world’s most prestigious stage. You have carried the raw, beating heart of Bharat into the global spotlight. The soil of our land now claims its place in cinematic history.”

About Kantara: Chapter 1

Kantara: Chapter 1 has emerged as one of the biggest Indian cinematic successes of 2025. The film currently stands as the second highest-grossing Indian film of the year, surpassing Chhaava’s ₹807 crore and clocking an impressive ₹813 crore worldwide within just 25 days of its release.

Serving as a prequel to Rishab Shetty’s 2022 blockbuster Kantara, the film delves deeper into the ancient Tulu tradition of Daiva Kola, also known as Bhuta Kola. Set in pre-colonial India, the story follows Berme, a tribal warrior who rises against the oppressive aristocracy to reclaim dignity and justice for his people.

The film features Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, and Jayaram in key roles and is produced by Hombale Films.

With its inclusion in the Oscars eligibility list, Kantara: Chapter 1 has taken another significant step toward cementing its legacy on the global stage.