Kantara Chapter 1 Box Office Collection Day: The Kantara Chapter 1 by Rishab Shetty is redefining the history of box offices in India. Released in theatres on October 2, 2025, the movie still reigns ten days after its release. Although there is also the competition of Varun Dhawan and the Sunny Sanskaari Ki Tulsi Kumari starring Janhvi Kapoor, it is evident that Kantara Chapter 1 is the first choice of the audience.
Early trade forecasts suggested that the movie has earned ₹38 crore on its second Saturday to take its overall domestic box office earnings to a whopping 397.65 crore. The movie has surpassed the 2 nd-highest-grossing Indian movie in 2025 with only a single step away from 400 crore mark.
A Phenomenal Box Office Run
Since its opening on the first day, Kantara Chapter 1 has received a loud reception at the box office. Theatres in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh as well as Tamil Nadu were seen to be recording full houses, although the Hindi version has been doing surprisingly well in North India as well.
According to film trade portals, the movie was able to hold its own on weekdays, and experience tremendous growth on the second weekend. Kantara Chapter 1 is becoming a worldwide success story with audiences appreciating it with their families, the youth, and even international viewers.
Beats ‘Saiyaara’, Becomes the Second Highest Grosser of 2025
The Pushpa 2 and the Saiyaara were the two movies that occupied the first two positions in the box office chart of 2025 until last week. But Kantara Chapter 1 has now out-collected Saiyaara becoming the highest grossing movie in terms of lifetime domestic revenue of ₹329.2 crore.
Here’s the updated ranking of the Top 3 Grossing Indian Films of 2025 (as of October 12, 2025):
- Pushpa 2 – ₹512.4 crore
- Kantara Chapter 1 – ₹397.65 crore
- Saiyaara – ₹329.2 crore
With the current momentum, Kantara Chapter 1 could even cross the ₹500 crore mark if it continues its strong theatrical run through October.
Rishab Shetty on Kantara’s Success
During a recent press event in Delhi, Rishab Shetty expressed his gratitude for the film’s overwhelming response. He said:
We have begun the Kantara universe with the thought about exploring the connection between the nature and human beings. These narrations belong to our folklore of Karnataka of the coasts – very much embedded into our culture. Chapter 1 enabled us to re-establish a connection with our traditions and beliefs and the love that we are getting is the indicator that local stories can be utterly universal.
His words reflect why Kantara resonates with such a wide audience — it blends spirituality, mythology, and human emotion in a way few modern films attempt.
A Story Rooted in Culture and Spirituality
Kantara Chapter 1 is not a typical commercial film. It draws heavily from folk traditions, tribal deities, and regional myths of South India. The film explores how communities maintain balance with nature, and what happens when that harmony is disturbed.
The cinematic world Rishab Shetty has built is a visual and emotional spectacle — stunning landscapes, powerful performances, haunting background music, and a narrative that feels both ancient and modern.
This unique combination of cultural depth and technical brilliance has made Kantara Chapter 1 a landmark in Indian cinema.
Audience and Critics Reactions
Customers have overwhelmed the social media with positive reviews. More viewers refer to it as a spiritual experience, not even a movie. Some other people compliment the dual role of Rishab Shetty as a director and lead actor in the film, stating that his performance was raw, divine, and memorable.
The critics have also praised the film to have genuine portrayal of South Indian folklore as well as the film being able to reach to the pan-Indian audiences at an emotional level.
The movie has however also thrown some controversy on its part when some more observant moviegoers spotted a plastic bottle in one of the period scenes – a continuity error in the song Brahmakalasha. Although it went viral on the Internet, it did not do much to help the movie gain popularity and appeal to the box office.
Box Office Breakdown (India)
| Day | Box Office Collection (in ₹ Crores) | Growth/Drop |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 43.2 | — |
| Day 2 | 41.5 | -4% |
| Day 3 | 48.7 | +17% |
| Day 4–7 (Weekdays) | 156.3 | Steady |
| Day 8 | 33.5 | -2% |
| Day 9 | 36.2 | +8% |
| Day 10 | 38.0 | +5% |
| Total (10 Days) | ₹397.65 crore | — |
The film’s overseas performance has also been commendable, with an additional ₹72 crore grossed internationally, pushing its worldwide total beyond ₹470 crore.
What’s Next for the Kantara Franchise?
According to sources who are closer to the production house, Kantara Chapter 2 is already in the initial stages of development. The makers intend to develop the Kantara Universe even more — they will dig more into the mythological and interlacing of the threads of Chapter 1. By his current rate, Rishab Shetty could be the first Kannada film director to produce two consecutive ₹400+ crore blockbusters a feat previously only attained by film directors such as S.S. Rajamouli and Prashanth Neel.
Final Verdict: A Cultural Blockbuster of 2025
Kantara Chapter 1 is not merely a movie, it is a feast of Indian culture and narrations.Amidst a world of action movies with huge budgets and movies that are remakes, this is a film by Rishab Shetty that towers as a beacon of realism and creative genius
.Being the most touching movie of the year with great narration, heartfelt soundtrack, and the emotional heart that is driven by spirituality, Kantara Chapter 1 is the most effective.With this much closer to the 400 crore mark, one thing is evident, namely Kantara Chapter 1 has found its place among the greatest Indian movies success stories of the past few years.