Happy Birthday Raj B. Shetty: The Journey of a Kannada Actor to Pan-Indian Celebrity

He started his career as an assistant director for actor and filmmaker Upendra. He worked on several of Upendra's films, including Super (2010), and Upendra 2 (2012). He was responsible for writing dialogue, editing scripts, and helping to conceptualize scenes for more than 8 years. Shetty's time as Upendra's assistant director helped shape him into the talented filmmaker he is today.

In 2017, Shetty made his directorial debut with the film Ondu Motteya Kathe. The film was a critical and commercial success, and it established Shetty as a talented filmmaker. It also won numerous awards, including the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Film. In this film, he also starred in the lead role and achieved widely praised acclaim for the role of "Janardhana."

After his directional debut in 2017, he went on to write the dialogue for Rishab Shetty's "Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale, Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai" in 2019. And then he directed "Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana," which earned him huge recognition across all Sandalwood audiences and moreover gained attention from other industry legends appreciation for his distinct talent.

Basil Alchakkal has written the script in a completely action-based manner and directed it in a stunning and thrilling manner, in which he went to ask Raj B. Shetty to star in the lead role, along with Samyukta Hornad, Chaitra Achar, and Gopalkrishna Deshpande. The film's first look was released on June 29th, 2023, and features Raj B. Shetty in a rugged and fierce avatar with a nose ring and a rugged beard with bruises and wounds on his face. The film is scheduled to release on August 25, 2023.

The phenomenal success of Kantara brought a discussion on three friends who are excelling in various crafts, in which the climax song of Kantara has been choreographed by Raj, and that was the highlighting scene of the film's success. And not only in this movie but in every one of Rakshit Shetty and Rishabh Shetty's movies, Raj has been the backbone and mastermind of his friend's projects. Now fans of Sandalwood call these friends "RRR" of KFI.

1. Won the 65th Filmfare Awards South for Best Film in Kannada (2018) for the film "Ondu Motteya Kathe."

2. Won the 67th Filmfare Awards South for Best Director in Kannada (2022) for the film Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana.

3. Nominated for Best Debut Director at the 7th SIIMA Awards (2017) for the film Ondu Motteya Kathe.

4. Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Negative Role at the SIIMA (2022) for the film Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana.

5. Nominated for the Feature Film Award at the Critics' Choice Film Awards, India (2022) for the film Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana.

6. Won the Best Film Award at the 10th SIIMA Awards (2022) for the film Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana.