Key Points
- Kantara Chapter 1 has crossed ₹500 crore at the domestic box office and ₹600 crore worldwide by its second weekend
- The film earned ₹437.65 crore in India by Day 11, making it the second-highest-grossing Indian film of 2025 after Chhaava
- Strong second weekend performance with 75% jump on Saturday (Day 10), collecting ₹39 crore
- The film has surpassed lifetime collections of Baahubali: The Beginning (₹420 crore), Salaar Part 1 (₹406 crore), and multiple other blockbusters
- Kantara Chapter 1 becomes the 16th Indian film and 9th South Indian title to cross ₹500 crore domestically
- Multi-language success with strong performance across Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam markets
Mumbai: Rishab Shetty’s mythological action-thriller “Kantara Chapter 1” has emerged as a box office phenomenon, creating unprecedented waves across Indian cinema with its record-breaking collections that show no signs of slowing down. The prequel to the 2022 blockbuster “Kantara” has shattered multiple box office records within just 11 days of its theatrical release, establishing itself as one of the most successful Indian films of 2025.
Domestic Box Office Domination
The film’s domestic performance has been nothing short of extraordinary, with Kantara Chapter 1 crossing the coveted ₹500 crore milestone at the Indian box office during its second weekend. According to trade tracking site Sacnilk, the film collected ₹437.65 crore in India by Day 11, with Sunday alone contributing approximately ₹40 crore to the total. This remarkable achievement makes it only the second film of 2025 to breach the ₹500 crore mark domestically, following Vicky Kaushal’s “Chhaava”.
The film’s opening week was spectacular, collecting ₹337.4 crore across all languages, with Day 1 registering a massive ₹61.85 crore. The strong performance continued through the first week, with the film maintaining collections in the ₹20-25 crore range on weekdays before witnessing a significant surge during the second weekend.
Weekend Performance Surge
Kantara Chapter 1 demonstrated exceptional staying power during its second weekend, with Saturday (Day 10) witnessing a remarkable 75% jump in collections compared to the previous day. The film earned ₹39 crore on Saturday, followed by ₹39.77 crore on Sunday (Day 11), showcasing sustained audience interest and positive word-of-mouth. This weekend surge contributed over ₹100 crore to the film’s total collections, reinforcing its blockbuster status.
The consistent performance across different days reflects the film’s broad appeal and strong content that resonates with audiences across linguistic and regional boundaries. Industry analysts note that such weekend jumps in the second week are rare and indicate exceptional audience satisfaction and repeat viewership.
Multi-Language Success Story
The pan-Indian appeal of Kantara Chapter 1 is evident from its performance across multiple languages. On Day 11 alone, the regional breakdown shows ₹12.47 crore from the Kannada version, ₹13.47 crore from Hindi, ₹5.62 crore from Tamil, ₹4.8 crore from Telugu, and ₹3.41 crore from Malayalam markets. The Hindi version’s strong performance, particularly contributing ₹14.25 crore on Day 10, demonstrates the film’s crossover appeal beyond its regional origins.
This multi-language success strategy has proven highly effective, with the film receiving significant audience response from Hindi-speaking markets while maintaining its stronghold in the South Indian circuits. The balanced performance across languages indicates the universal appeal of Rishab Shetty’s storytelling and the film’s mythological themes.
Record-Breaking Achievements
Kantara Chapter 1 has officially entered the elite club of highest-grossing Indian films, surpassing several major releases of recent years. The film has beaten the lifetime collections of prestigious titles, including Baahubali: The Beginning (₹420 crore), Prabhas’s Salaar Part 1 (₹406 crore), Rajinikanth’s Coolie, Hrithik Roshan’s War 2, and other significant releases.
By crossing ₹500 crore domestically, Kantara Chapter 1 becomes the 16th Indian film and 9th South Indian title of all time to achieve this milestone. The film has also surpassed major Bollywood hits like Tiger Zinda Hai, Dhoom 3 (both ₹558 crore), Saiyaara (₹570 crore), Padmaavat (₹585 crore), and Sanju (₹589 crore) in its journey to box office supremacy.
Worldwide Collections and Global Impact
The worldwide performance of Kantara Chapter 1 has been equally impressive, with the film crossing ₹600 crore globally by its second weekend. Hombale Films, the production house behind the project, announced that the film earned ₹509 crore worldwide in its first week alone. By Day 10, various trade estimates place the worldwide collection between ₹560-590 crore, with the higher estimate suggesting the film has surpassed multiple international benchmarks.
This global success positions Kantara Chapter 1 as the second-highest-grossing Indian film of 2025 worldwide, trailing only behind Chhaava’s ₹800 crore collection. The film’s international appeal demonstrates the growing global acceptance of regional Indian cinema and mythological storytelling.
Industry Recognition and Critical Acclaim
The success of Kantara Chapter 1 has garnered widespread recognition from industry veterans and critics alike. The mythological action-thriller has received praise across all languages for its authentic portrayal of folk culture, exceptional cinematography, and Rishab Shetty’s powerful performance as both actor and director. The positive word-of-mouth has been instrumental in sustaining the film’s momentum beyond its opening week.
Industry insiders note that the film’s success represents a significant shift in audience preferences toward content-driven cinema that celebrates regional culture while maintaining universal appeal. The exceptional performance has also validated the prequel concept, with audiences embracing the mythological narrative that precedes the events of the original Kantara.
Competition with Chhaava
Despite its remarkable success, Kantara Chapter 1 faces stiff competition from Vicky Kaushal’s “Chhaava,” which currently holds the position as 2025’s highest-grossing Indian film with ₹800 crore worldwide and over ₹600 crore domestically. However, industry analysts believe that with sustained momentum and the upcoming Diwali holidays providing an additional boost, Kantara Chapter 1 has a realistic chance of challenging Chhaava’s supremacy.
The film’s trajectory suggests it could potentially reach ₹600-650 crore domestically if the current pace continues through the festive season. Trade experts are closely monitoring the film’s performance during the Diwali week, which traditionally sees increased theater attendance and could provide the final push needed to break existing records.
Future Projections and Box Office Outlook
With strong audience support and positive critical reception, Kantara Chapter 1 is expected to maintain its robust performance through the coming weeks. The film’s exceptional second weekend performance indicates sustained interest, and with Diwali festivities approaching, there’s potential for further growth in collections. Industry experts predict that if the current momentum continues, the film could emerge as one of the biggest Indian blockbusters of all time.
The success of Kantara Chapter 1 not only establishes Rishab Shetty as a major force in Indian cinema but also demonstrates the commercial viability of regional stories with universal themes. As the film continues its theatrical run, all eyes remain on whether it can surpass Chhaava to become 2025’s biggest Indian film, setting new benchmarks for regional cinema’s pan-Indian appeal.
