Post by : Rameen Ariff

Rishab Shetty’s much-awaited prequel Kantara Chapter 1 has stormed the box office with an extraordinary Day 1 performance. Released on Gandhi Jayanti across multiple languages, the film collected an impressive ₹60 crore in India on its opening day, making it one of the biggest releases of 2025. The film, which follows the massive success of Kantara (2022), was released in Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam, pulling audiences from all corners of the country.

According to early trade estimates, Kantara Chapter 1 earned ₹18 crore in Kannada, ₹12.5 crore in Telugu, ₹19.5 crore in Hindi, ₹5.25 crore in Tamil, and ₹4.75 crore in Malayalam. The movie sold a record 1.28 million tickets within 24 hours, making it one of the most-watched films on Day 1 in Indian cinema.

With over 8,800 shows nationwide, the film witnessed massive footfall. In Karnataka, where the Kannada version released in nearly 1,500 shows, it achieved a record-breaking 88% occupancy rate. Telugu and Tamil markets recorded over 70% occupancy, Malayalam saw 65%, while the Hindi version, with 4,700 shows, registered around 30% occupancy on Day 1.

Kantara Chapter 1 debuted as the third-highest single-day collection of 2025, trailing only Rajinikanth’s Coolie (₹65 crore) and Pawan Kalyan’s They Call Him OG (₹63.75 crore). The film even surpassed big openers like Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava (₹52 crore) and Saiyaara. In the Hindi market, the film’s ₹19.5 crore debut marks the second-biggest opening for a Kannada film in Hindi, just behind KGF Chapter 2 (₹54 crore).

Directed by and starring Rishab Shetty, Kantara Chapter 1 expands the universe of the original Kantara (2022), which earned over ₹407 crore worldwide on a modest budget of ₹16 crore. The prequel comes with larger visuals, ambitious storytelling, and grand production values, taking the franchise to new heights. The film also stars Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, and Jayaram in important roles, with cinematography by Arvind S Kashyap, editing by Suresh, and music by B Ajaneesh Loknath. Production is handled by Vijay Kiragandur and Chaluve Gowda under the Hombale Films banner.

With its massive ₹60 crore Day 1 collection, Kantara Chapter 1 has already entered the Top 10 highest-grossing films of 2025 on its very first day. Its record-breaking opening shows the growing influence of Kannada cinema across India, cementing Rishab Shetty’s film as one of the most successful releases of the year.

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