One of the most awaited movies of the year has finally been released. Kantara Chapter 1 is on the big screens now. The film, led by Rishab Shetty delivered one of the most remarkable first days seen in recent times, making history across multiple regions in India. The collection numbers are staggering, it turned out to be a celebration upon its release across the nation. To know more about what happened and what are the actual numbers, read on.
A Stunning ₹60 Crore Opening
The first day collections of Kantara Chapter 1 underline the sheer scale of its appeal. Trade estimates suggest the film brought in around ₹60 crore net in India. The gross figure climbing close to ₹65 crore once overseas earnings are added. That puts it ahead of some of this year’s high-profile releases, including Chhaava, which had managed ₹31 crore, and Sikandar, which opened at ₹26 crore. Even Rajinikanth’s Coolie, which was widely celebrated for its box office strength, is reported to have earned a little lower in certain circuits compared to the storm raised by Rishab Shetty’s film.
What makes this figure even more extraordinary is the balance between versions. Through the early estimation, it is believed that Hindi dubbed releases have contributed between ₹19 and ₹21 crore. The story is so deeply rooted in regional folklore, to see such numbers from Hindi-speaking regions is a sign of how much Indian cinema has changed in recent years. Apart from this, the original Kannada version, alongside Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam versions, brought in ₹39–41 crore.
Building on the Legacy of the Original
When the first Kantara released in 2022, it surprised the entire nation by grossing over ₹400 crore worldwide despite starting modestly. Kantara Chapter 1 has not only matched but in some ways exceeded those expectations, showing that audiences were hungry for more of this world.
The prequel format also works in its favor, allowing the story to expand into uncharted mythological and spiritual territory while still connecting with the soul of the first film. It’s no wonder that with a ₹65 crore worldwide gross on day one, the new film is already being talked about as one of the most significant releases of the year.
Comparisons with Blockbusters
In the broader landscape of Indian cinema, Kantara Chapter 1 stands tall. Only a handful of films like KGF 2 and RRR have managed to breach such opening-day figures, with those films launching at around ₹100–120 crore worldwide. While Shetty’s film isn’t chasing those numbers yet, its ₹60 crore net debut in India is far stronger than most star-driven releases in 2025.
Forecasting the First Weekend
If opening day is an indicator, the weekend promises even bigger milestones. Industry experts expect day two to land somewhere in the ₹35–38 crore range, given it is a working weekday, before surging again on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday could bring in ₹42–45 crore, while Sunday has the potential to touch nearly ₹50 crore as families head to theaters.
Lifetime Projections
Long-term projections vary depending on how well the film sustains during weekdays. In the most optimistic scenario, where the strong word of mouth continues pulling in crowds for weeks, Kantara Chapter 1 could end its run with ₹550–600 crore gross worldwide.
The Road Ahead
With such a powerful beginning, the challenge now is to maintain consistency. If weekday drops are controlled, the film will enter the ₹500 crore club without breaking a sweat. If the enthusiasm continues into week two, it could even challenge the records of KGF 2 and RRR in certain categories. For now, the ₹60 crore net start has already secured its place as a major box office triumph.
The current numbers seem promising; however, there is a big room for more expectation. The recent updates from The Times of India stated that the film is supposed to be released in 30 more countries. The movie broke the chart in its home country, then we can only expect much more when it becomes a global phenomenon.
A New Benchmark for Regional Cinema
This film has brought the country together once again. In a country where diversity is at its maximum, regional cinemas are mostly a hit or miss. However, not in Rishab Shetty’s direction. The movie brought a fresh perspective to the movie industry by focusing more on shared themes. This movie is beyond man-made boundaries; the major aspect of his film is that man versus nature is a universal theme. This side of regional cinema gave many indie filmmakers hope in a way. Nowadays, most of the scripts are redundant with the same themes and conflicts, but this film gave a new direction now from which many are getting inspired. We can only hope that in the coming days, we get to see more films that are unique and authentic on their own.
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Conclusion
Now that we have seen the bombastic opening of Kantara Chapter 1, it will be unfair to say that it won’t grow more. There is a huge uproar amongst the fans for its commendable visuals and presentation. The skillfully crafted dialogues and screen portrayal are an indication that Rishab Shetty has indeed kept the promise. Shetty, before release, has mentioned that he was excited to see how the audience would take the movie. Well, in that note, the numbers are the proof that his loyal fan following has showered the film with love. Each scene, each angle, everything is just remarkably shot. If you also want to experience this breathtaking story, book your tickets now.
Written by Kenbi Riba