Rishab Shetty’s Kantara Chapter 1 continues its unstoppable run at the box office, maintaining remarkable momentum even after the festive holiday. Despite releasing midweek, the film has managed to sustain packed theatres across Karnataka and several parts of India, setting the stage for a massive opening weekend.
Strong Start at the Box Office
After opening to a thunderous response, Kantara Chapter 1 earned close to ₹90 crore worldwide on its first day, powered by the Dussehra holiday boost. The film’s appeal wasn’t limited to Indian audiences—international markets also responded positively, contributing significantly to its global earnings.
On day two, the film brought in an additional ₹45 crore net from India alone, taking its domestic total to ₹106.85 crore net (₹128.25 crore gross). With this, Kantara Chapter 1 has already become the top-grossing Kannada film of 2025, surpassing Su From So, which had collected ₹92 crore net during its entire theatrical run.
Overseas Success Adds to the Glory
The Rishab Shetty starrer is also making waves abroad. In just two days, it has raked in over $2.5 million (approximately ₹22.75 crore) from international markets, pushing its global total to a staggering ₹151 crore. The film’s universal appeal and powerful storytelling have clearly struck a chord with audiences worldwide.
Beating Major Box Office Competitors
With its impressive earnings, Kantara Chapter 1 has already overtaken the lifetime collections of several major films such as Mirai (₹142 crore), Kesari Chapter 2 (₹144 crore), and Sky Force (₹150 crore). At its current pace, the film is well on its way to surpassing the ₹200 crore milestone—potentially by Saturday itself. If the strong word-of-mouth buzz continues, industry analysts predict it could cross the ₹300 crore mark by early next week.
About Kantara Chapter 1
Directed and written by Rishab Shetty, Kantara Chapter 1 serves as a prequel to the 2022 blockbuster Kantara, which earned over ₹400 crore worldwide on a modest ₹15 crore budget. The new chapter delves into events set a thousand years before the original story, exploring the roots of the mystical legend that defined the first film. Alongside Rishab Shetty in the lead, the movie features stellar performances by Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, and Gulshan Devaiah.
With its gripping narrative, breathtaking visuals, and cultural depth, Kantara Chapter 1 has not only lived up to sky-high expectations but also reaffirmed Rishab Shetty’s position as one of India’s most visionary filmmakers.
