His birth name is Prashanth Shetty, later changed to Rishab Shetty for cinema.
He studied Commerce at Vijaya College, Bengaluru, and later earned a diploma in filmmaking at the Government Film and Television Institute.
His father is an astrologer, and his mother is a homemaker.
Lucia (2013), though not directed by him, was a turning point in Kannada cinema and influenced his creative vision.
He is known for portraying raw, rooted characters, especially his role as Shiva in Kantara.