Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter 1 has taken the global box office by storm, crossing the ₹300-crore mark within just four days of release. The Kannada period action drama concluded its opening weekend with an astounding ₹325 crore worldwide gross, making it one of the fastest-growing Indian films of the year.
On Sunday, the film registered a massive domestic collection of ₹61 crore net, bringing its four-day India total to ₹223.25 crore net (₹268 crore gross). With this, Kantara: Chapter 1 now stands as the second-highest opening weekend for any Kannada film, trailing only behind KGF Chapter 2, which earned ₹380 crore domestically during its 2022 debut.
The film has also witnessed strong traction overseas, raking in more than $6 million from international markets, according to trade estimates. Its total worldwide gross after four days stands at an impressive ₹325 crore, setting new benchmarks for Kannada cinema in the global arena.
In achieving this feat, Kantara: Chapter 1 has outperformed several recent blockbusters, including Sitaare Zameen Par (₹266 crore) and Lokah: Chapter 1 (₹290 crore). It has also surpassed the lifetime earnings of the 2023 sleeper hit HanuMan (₹298 crore) and even overtaken KGF Chapter 1 (₹248 crore) in total worldwide collections. The film now ranks as the third-highest-grossing Kannada film ever, behind KGF Chapter 2 (₹1248 crore) and the original Kantara (₹400 crore). Trade analysts predict that it could overtake its predecessor within the first week and possibly become the first Indian film of 2025 to cross ₹1000 crore.
Written and directed by Rishab Shetty, Kantara: Chapter 1 serves as a prequel to the 2022 hit Kantara, exploring events set a thousand years earlier. Featuring Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, and Gulshan Devaiah alongside Shetty, the film has earned widespread acclaim for its storytelling, performances, and cultural depth. With roaring box office numbers and critical praise, Kantara: Chapter 1 is shaping up to be a landmark success in Indian cinema.
