Zaheer Darbar – Entertainment Editor
Kantara: Chapter 1 Continues Record Run, Crosses ₹600 Crore Globally: Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter 1 continued its record-breaking streak in its second weekend, surpassing ₹600 crore in worldwide collections. Released on October 2, 2025, the prequel to the 2022 blockbuster Kantara has captivated audiences across languages and regions, solidifying its position as one of the highest-grossing Indian films of the year.
Strong Opening and Rapid Growth
In its first week, Kantara: Chapter 1 earned over ₹300 crore, and within just 11 days, it crossed the ₹600 crore mark globally, with ₹438 crore from India alone. The film added nearly ₹100 crore during its second weekend, outperforming all previous Indian releases in 2025.
Daily Box Office Performance
The film maintained impressive daily collections, with ₹39.77 crore on its second Sunday. Sacnilk reported the day-wise collections as follows:
- Day 1: ₹61.85 crore
- Day 2: ₹45.40 crore
- Day 3: ₹55.00 crore
- Day 4: ₹63.00 crore
- Day 5: ₹31.50 crore
- Day 6: ₹34.25 crore
- Day 7: ₹25.25 crore
- Day 8: ₹20.50–21.15 crore
- Day 9: ₹22.00–22.25 crore
- Day 10: ₹37.00–39.00 crore
- Day 11: ₹39.77–40.00 crore
Multilingual Success
Kantara: Chapter 1 has resonated with audiences beyond Kannada-speaking regions. On Day 11, occupancy rates stood at 79.33% for Kannada, 33.42% for Hindi, and substantial contributions came from Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam versions. City-wise, Bengaluru led with 72% occupancy, followed by Chennai at 60.75% and Hyderabad at 47.25%.
Regional box office contributions on Day 11 were notable: Kannada ₹12.47 crore, Hindi ₹13.47 crore, Tamil ₹5.62 crore, Telugu ₹4.8 crore, and Malayalam ₹3.41 crore. Overall, this reflected a 1.97% growth over the previous day, showing sustained audience interest.
Breaking Records and Setting New Milestones
According to Sacnilk, Kantara: Chapter 1 is now the 16th Indian film and 9th South Indian film to gross over ₹500 crore domestically. By surpassing hits like Chhaava, Saiyaara, and Mahavatar Narsimha, Rishab Shetty’s directorial is poised to become the top Indian grosser of 2025. The film’s long-term collections could redefine the Indian box office landscape this year, elevating a regional success to nationwide acclaim.
Plot and Cast Highlights
Kantara: Chapter 1 serves as a prequel to the 2022 blockbuster, exploring the origins of Bhoota Kola rituals during the Kadamba dynasty. The story centers on divine beings Panjurli and Guliga Daiva. The star-studded cast includes Rishab Shetty as Berme, Gulshan Devaiah as Kulashekara, Jayaram as King Rajashekara, and Rukmini Vasanth as Kanakavathi.
Audience and Critical Response
The mythological action-thriller has received praise from both critics and audiences across languages. While the Kannada version leads in performance, Hindi and other regional audiences have warmly embraced the film, showcasing the universal appeal of its rich mythology and gripping storytelling.
With its continuing momentum, Kantara: Chapter 1 is not only a commercial triumph but also a cultural phenomenon, reinforcing Rishab Shetty’s reputation as a visionary filmmaker in Indian cinema.
