Key Points
- Kantara Chapter 1 earns ₹60-65 crore on opening day, October 2, 2025
- Hindi belt contributes ₹19-21 crore to total collection, showing strong pan-India appeal
- Film recovers 50% of its ₹125 crore budget on first day itself
- Beats opening day collections of Saiyaara (₹22 crore), Sikandar (₹26 crore), and Chhaava (₹31 crore)
- Kannada version registers 88.13% occupancy; Telugu 75.34%; Tamil 71.42%; Hindi 29.84%
- Second-largest opening for Kannada film in Hindi market after KGF Chapter 2
- Celebrities including Prabhas and Jr NTR praise the film’s success
- Competes closely with Rajinikanth’s Coolie (₹77 crore) and Pawan Kalyan’s OG (₹63.73 crore)
Mumbai: Two major films clashed at the box office on October 2, 2025, during the auspicious Dusshera holiday, and early estimates confirm that Rishab Shetty’s Kantara Chapter 1 has emerged as the clear frontrunner. The prequel to the 2022 blockbuster Kantara has taken Indian cinema by storm, registering phenomenal opening day collections that position it among the biggest launches of 2025.
Record-Breaking Opening Day Performance
According to industry tracker Sacnilk, Kantara Chapter 1 collected approximately ₹60-65 crore net in India on its opening day. This represents a massive 1400% higher opening compared to the original Kantara, which debuted with just ₹1.27 crore in 2022. The film started slowly during morning shows but witnessed tremendous momentum during evening and night shows following positive word-of-mouth from premiere screenings.
The phenomenal first-day collection means Rishab Shetty’s directorial has already recovered approximately 50% of its estimated ₹125 crore budget within 24 hours of release. This remarkable achievement positions the film strongly for profitability, with trade analysts predicting it will quickly recoup its entire investment and generate substantial returns in the coming weeks.
Comparison with Pawan Kalyan’s OG and Rajinikanth’s Coolie
While Kantara Chapter 1’s opening is impressive, it falls slightly short of two other major South Indian releases. Pawan Kalyan’s OG (also known as “They Call Him OG”) opened with ₹63.73 crore, while Rajinikanth’s Coolie registered ₹77 crore on its debut day. However, Kantara Chapter 1’s ₹60-65 crore opening places it in direct competition with these megastar vehicles, trailing by only a few crores despite having a comparatively modest budget.
The film has definitively surpassed several other major 2025 releases including Saiyaara (₹22 crore), Sikandar (₹26 crore), and Chhaava (₹31 crore), establishing itself among the top openers of the year. This achievement is particularly significant considering Kantara Chapter 1 is a Kannada-language film competing against pan-Indian productions with larger marketing budgets and star power.
Hindi Belt Drives Pan-India Success
The most encouraging aspect of Kantara Chapter 1’s performance is its exceptional reception in the Hindi-speaking markets. The Hindi dubbed version alone contributed approximately ₹19-21 crore to the total opening day collection, demonstrating the film’s strong appeal beyond traditional South Indian audiences. This figure could increase further once single-screen collections are fully accounted for, as the film performed particularly well in tier-2 and tier-3 centers where Dusshera holiday footfalls were substantial.
The Hindi version registered an impressive 29.84% occupancy on opening day, with morning shows alone recording 18.36% occupancy. This pushed aside major Bollywood releases in the top occupancy charts, displacing films like Sitaare Zameen Par (16.74%) and Sikandar (13.76%). Industry sources indicate the Hindi version aims to cross the ₹20 crore mark, solidifying its position among the highest-grossing Hindi openings of 2025.
Kantara Chapter 1 now holds the distinction of having the second-largest opening for a Kannada film in the Hindi market, trailing only the phenomenal ₹54 crore debut of Yash’s KGF Chapter 2. This comparison underscores the prequel’s remarkable crossover appeal and validates Hombale Films’ strategy of positioning it as a pan-India festive release.
Regional Performance Analysis
The film’s performance across different language markets reveals its widespread acceptance. The Kannada version dominated with an outstanding 88.13% overall occupancy in theatres on Thursday, reflecting the home audience’s enthusiasm for Rishab Shetty’s storytelling. The Telugu dubbed version registered a strong 75.34% occupancy, while the Tamil version recorded 71.42% occupancy. Even the Hindi version’s 29.84% occupancy is considered excellent for a dubbed South Indian film, especially given the competition from other Dusshera releases.
This multi-language success demonstrates that Kantara Chapter 1 transcends regional boundaries, appealing to diverse audiences through its universal themes rooted in Indian mythology and folklore. The strategic Dusshera release timing provided additional momentum, as families sought festive entertainment during the holiday period.
Celebrity Endorsements and Critical Acclaim
The film has received widespread praise from industry heavyweights, further boosting its box office prospects. Superstar Prabhas described Kantara Chapter 1 as “brilliant” with “outstanding performances” and predicted it could become the biggest blockbuster of the year. Jr NTR congratulated Rishab Shetty and the Hombale Films team, praising Shetty for excelling both as a director and actor while pulling off “the unthinkable”.
Kannada cinema icon Shiva Rajkumar expressed pride that a story rooted in their land and region is being celebrated nationwide, congratulating the entire team for their achievement. These endorsements from major stars have generated additional buzz on social media, driving more audiences to theatres.
Technical Excellence and Production Values
Critics and audiences have particularly praised the film’s visual effects, with some declaring it features the best animal VFX to emerge from Indian cinema. The period mythological drama benefits from Ajaneesh Loknath’s evocative music, Arvind S Kashyap’s cinematography, and Suresh Mallaiah’s editing. The technical team’s efforts to create an immersive historical world have resonated strongly with viewers, justifying the film’s theatrical experience.
Future Projections and Market Positioning
With positive reviews and strong word-of-mouth driving repeat viewings, Kantara Chapter 1 is expected to maintain momentum through the extended Dusshera weekend. The film’s budget recovery of 50% on day one indicates it will likely achieve break-even within the first week and generate substantial profits thereafter. Trade analysts predict lifetime collections could potentially surpass the original Kantara’s ₹81.1 crore Hindi version total, given the prequel’s significantly higher opening.
The combination of festive timing, positive critical reception, celebrity endorsements, and strong pan-India appeal positions Kantara Chapter 1 for a successful theatrical run. Rishab Shetty’s dual achievement as director and lead actor has been validated by both box office numbers and audience appreciation, cementing his status as one of Indian cinema’s most exciting contemporary filmmakers.
