New Delhi: Rishab Shetty's Kantara Chapter 1 has taken the box office by storm, cementing its place as one of India's biggest blockbusters of 2025. In just seven days, the Kannada period action epic has raked in an estimated Rs 316 crore net in India and crossed Rs 400 crore worldwide, becoming the second highest-grossing Kannada film ever, just behind KGF Chapter 2.
According to Sacnilk, the film earned Rs 25 crore net on Wednesday, bringing its total domestic tally to Rs 316 crore. Kantara Chapter 1 opened to a thunderous Rs 61.85 crore on Thursday, followed by Rs 45.4 crore on Friday. The weekend numbers were extraordinary - Rs 55 crore on Saturday and Rs 63 crore on Sunday - taking its four-day total well past the Rs 200 crore mark. Even on weekdays, the film showed remarkable stability, collecting Rs 31.5 crore on Monday and Rs 33.25 crore on Tuesday.
The film's reach across languages has also fuelled its massive success. On Wednesday, October 8, it recorded 55.73% occupancy in Kannada, 35% in Tamil, 28.6% in Malayalam, 23.83% in Telugu, and 16.41% in Hindi - a clear indicator of how Kantara Chapter 1 has transcended regional barriers to become a true pan-Indian hit.
Made on a Rs 125 crore budget, the film has already earned more than three times its cost and continues to outperform major Bollywood and South Indian releases like Chhaava, Saiyaara, and Pawan Kalyan's OG. With no major film releasing this Friday, October 10, Kantara Chapter 1 is expected to enjoy a free run at the box office, further boosting its chances of crossing the coveted Rs 1000 crore mark in the coming weeks.
Film trade analyst Taran Adarsh credits the film's triumph to its content and emotional power rather than just franchise value.
"Kantara has worked for various reasons. The content is its biggest strength, right from the first frame to the finale. The last 40 minutes are out of this world. Rishab Shetty has done an outstanding job, and so have Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, and every actor involved. It's a perfect example of teamwork where everything has fallen into place. This film makes India proud-it reminds filmmakers to push boundaries and give audiences stories that go beyond stereotypes."
Trade Analyst Sreedhar Pillai said, "It is a worthy prequel and a total big ticket theatrical experience along with a terrific performance by Rishab Shetty who anchors the show along with a fabulous Rukmini Vasanth. Plus that last 20 minutes climax with plenty of goosebumps moments. Technically it is superb with top-of-the range production designs."
Despite facing a piracy leak soon after release, the film's theatrical momentum has remained unstoppable. Strong word-of-mouth and nationwide appreciation have made it a movement of sorts, proving that authentic storytelling still drives audiences to cinemas.
A prequel to the 2022 sleeper hit Kantara, the film takes viewers back nearly a thousand years to explore the origins of the Bhuta Kola tradition and the sacred link between man, nature, and divinity. The story follows Berme (Rishab Shetty), a tribal warrior who protects his people and their land from a powerful kingdom that seeks to seize their resources.
Produced by Vijay Kiragandur and Chaluve Gowda under Hombale Films, and co-starring Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, and Gulshan Devaiah, Kantara Chapter 1 blends folklore, spirituality, and raw human emotion into a cinematic experience that's both epic and deeply personal. Controversies couldn't slow it down-if anything, they've only amplified curiosity and celebration around one of India's most powerful cinematic sagas.
With its box office domination and universal acclaim, Kantara Chapter 1 isn't just a prequel - it's a statement. A reminder that rooted stories told with conviction can resonate across languages, cultures, and continents.
ALSO READ | Kantara Chapter 1 Box Office Collection Day 7: Rishab Shetty's Film Enters Rs 300 Crore Club, Crosses Rs 100 Crore Mark In Hindi
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