The magic of Rishab Shetty continues to reign at the box office. Kantara Chapter 1 has shattered yet another milestone, having grossed more than ₹300-crore globally within four days of its opening. Through its powerful storyline, earthy looks, and gigantic scale, the movie has not only exceeded the gigantic expectations but also rewritten the playbook on what a Kannada movie can do on the global stage.
A Roaring Start to the Year
Amidst a year teeming with big releases across industries, Kantara Chapter 1 is a clear winner. The movie has raked in a record ₹325 crore globally by the end of its opening weekend, and it looks set to be one of the biggest box-office tales of 2025. Out of this, ₹268 crore came from India alone, making it the second-biggest opening weekend ever for a Kannada film just behind KGF Chapter 2, which had an unprecedented ₹380-crore domestic opening in 2022.
To put this into context, these numbers are huge not only compared to Kannada films, but even as a pan-India metric. Few films have crossed ₹300 crore globally in their opening four days, and the fact that Kantara Chapter 1 did it with negligible urban hype and word-of-mouth wave speaks volumes about its popularity and hold.
Sunday Surge Pushes It Past Big Hits
The film saw an incredible jump on Sunday, collecting ₹61 crore net in India. This strong domestic surge ensured that Kantara Chapter 1 ended its first weekend on a high note. Interestingly, it didn’t just perform well in Karnataka audiences in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and even the Hindi-speaking belt turned up in huge numbers. Multiplex chains recorded near-houseful shows all day, while single screens saw an almost festival-like scenario.
The Sunday boost also brought Kantara Chapter 1 ahead of quite a few recent blockbusters. It crossed the lifetime collections of Sitaare Zameen Par (₹266 crore) and Lokah Chapter 1 (₹290 crore), and even the lifetime collections of the surprise 2023 blockbuster HanuMan (₹298 crore). But the biggest news was when Rishab Shetty’s prequel went ahead of KGF Chapter 1 (₹248 crore), the third-highest-grossing Kannada film ever.
Pursuing Its Own Legacy
For Rishab Shetty, this win is particularly sweet. The original Kantara (2022) was a culture storm that mixed divine mysticism, folklores of the native land, and down-to-earth performances to create something truly unforgettable. Kantara Chapter 1, which is a prequel set a thousand years prior to the first movie, explores further the myth and origin of the divine legend.
Now, with ₹325 crore already on board, the film is quickly closing in on the lifetime collection of original Kantara (₹400 crore). Trade analysts predict that it may surpass that number within its first week itself, potentially setting a new benchmark for Kannada cinema. The next big question everyone’s asking can Kantara Chapter 1 be the first Indian film of 2025 to cross ₹1000 crore worldwide? Going by its current trajectory, that goal no longer seems out of reach.
Overseas Numbers and Global Buzz
Though the local market has been outstanding, Kantara Chapter 1 is similarly doing outstanding business overseas as well. The movie has apparently grossed more than $6 million (roughly ₹50 crore) in overseas markets in four days. A good diaspora turnout in the US, UAE, and Australia has helped the count, with many shows running to housefull audiences even in weekday shows.
The international performance is a testament to how profoundly Kantara’s narrative connects across borders. The shared themes of religion, sacrifice, and heritage-bound in Rishab Shetty’s visually opulent filmmaking have resonated with viewers who might not even speak the language but connect on an emotional level through the visuals and music.
What Makes Kantara Chapter 1 Special
Beneath its genre-bending cloak, Kantara Chapter 1 is a cinematic ride. It is not just an action-drama it’s a spiritual quest. The direction by Rishab Shetty is authoritative but poetic, as it marries mythology with human drama. His acting as the protagonist is raw and visceral, and Rukmini Vasanth adds emotional gravitas to the narrative. The addition of actors as seasoned as Jayaram and Gulshan Devaiah adds another depth to the story.
The film’s cinematic excellence Ajaneesh Loknath’s ethereal background score, Arvind S Kashyap’s breathtaking cinematography, and the realist art design makes the world look and feel at once ancient and living. Critics have termed it a visual and emotional masterpiece, and the fans have called it “cinema that touches the soul.”
The Verdict
Four days. ₹325 crore. History-making hype. With Kantara Chapter 1, Rishab Shetty has once again shown the world why culture-oriented storytelling can work magic worldwide. The box office success of the film is the proof that people in India and across the globe are hungry for real stories that are all about celebrating identity and emotion.
With the film hurtling towards new box office benchmarks, one thing is definite Kantara Chapter 1 isn’t a film. It’s a movement, a fiesta of films that unites the divine, the mythological, and the human.