Kantara Chapter 1 Box Office Collection Day 1: Rishab Shetty’s Epic Opens at ₹90 Crore Worldwide, Beats Saiyaara & Baahubali Records
The highly anticipated prequel Kantara Chapter 1 (also referred to as Kantara 2) has opened to a record-breaking response at the global box office. Directed and led by Rishab Shetty, the film has managed a remarkable start, collecting close to ₹90 crore worldwide on its first day. With this, the movie has surpassed the opening day numbers of several big releases, including Baahubali Part 1 and recent Hindi blockbusters.
This early success indicates that the film, despite being rooted in regional storytelling and folklore, has managed to connect with audiences across India and overseas.
A Strong Start for Kantara 2025 Chapter 1
According to early trade reports, Kantara Chapter 1 earned approximately ₹60 crore net in India on its opening day. The gross domestic collection stands at around ₹72 crore. In addition, the movie brought in close to $2 million (about ₹16 crore) from overseas markets, taking its global day 1 total to nearly ₹90 crore.
This makes it the second-best opening for a Kannada film in history, behind only Yash’s KGF Chapter 2, which had collected ₹159 crore on day 1.
For the Kannada film industry, this is another proud moment, as a film deeply tied to local culture and folklore has managed to hold its ground among massive pan-Indian releases.
Occupancy and Audience Response
Trade tracker Sacnilk reported that the film registered more than 70% occupancy across shows in South India. The Kannada version witnessed houseful shows in Bengaluru, Mangaluru, and other parts of Karnataka, while the dubbed versions in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam also opened strongly.
Interestingly, the Hindi version of Kantara Chapter 1 has contributed significantly to the overall earnings. The film collected nearly ₹20 crore in the Hindi belt on its first day, proving that the popularity of the franchise has grown far beyond Karnataka.
This strong response from the Hindi-speaking market is particularly noteworthy, as many regional films struggle to gain traction outside their primary language.
Beating Bollywood and Other Big Releases
The ₹90 crore global opening has placed Kantara Chapter 1 ahead of several recent big-ticket films. For comparison:
- Saiyaara managed an opening of ₹29.20 crore.
- Chhaava, the highest-grossing Hindi film of 2025 so far, opened at ₹37.25 crore.
- War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, earned ₹84.60 crore on day 1.
- Stree 2 opened at ₹79.60 crore.
- Even Baahubali Part 1 had collected around ₹73.40 crore on its first day.
Clearly, Kantara Chapter 1 has outperformed many films with larger budgets and established Bollywood stars.
The Budget and Production Scale
The budget of Kantara 2025 Chapter 1 is reported to be far higher than the original 2022 Kantara. While the first film was made on a modest budget of around ₹15 crore and went on to gross over ₹400 crore worldwide, the prequel has been mounted on a much grander scale.
Industry reports suggest that Kantara Chapter 1 has a budget of approximately ₹150 crore. Considering its massive opening, the film is expected to recover a major portion of its investment within the first weekend itself.
This scale-up in budget is clearly visible on screen, with elaborate sets, extensive visual effects, and large-scale battle sequences forming a core part of the narrative.
Storyline and Cast of Kantara Chapter 1
The movie is set a thousand years before the events of the first Kantara film. The plot revolves around Berme, played by Rishab Shetty, who stands as a fearless protector of his people against the mighty Kadamba dynasty.
The cast of Kantara Chapter 1 includes:
- Rishab Shetty as Berme
- Rukmini Vasanth in a strong supporting role
- Gulshan Devaiah as the ambitious prince Kulasekhara
- Jayaram as the king
- Rakesh Poojary in a key role
Rukmini Vasanth, known for her performances in Sapta Sagaradaache Ello, has received special mention for her powerful dialogues and screen presence in Kantara Chapter 1. Her role is being seen as a career-defining performance, adding weight to the growing list of Rukmini Vasanth movies that showcase her versatility.
Spectacle on Screen
From a cinematic perspective, the film has been praised for its production design and visual grandeur. Cinematographer Arvind Kashyap and composer Ajaneesh Loknath have been credited for creating an immersive world.
The film blends action, folklore, and spirituality, with Rishab Shetty once again portraying divine possession and the power of deities in a convincing manner. While some critics have pointed out pacing issues and uneven flow in the first half, the overall viewing experience has been described as engaging and visually impressive.
Early Trade Predictions
Given the strong day 1 collection, trade experts believe that Kantara Chapter 1 could emerge as one of the top-grossing films of the year. If the momentum continues over the weekend, the film might cross ₹250 crore worldwide within its first week.
In comparison with other recent releases, the movie already holds an advantage because of its wide appeal across languages and regions. The Hindi version’s contribution, in particular, indicates a pan-India acceptance that was previously uncertain for regional films of this scale.
Comparison with Other Big Kannada Releases
- KGF Chapter 2 (Yash) – ₹159 crore worldwide on day 1
- Kantara Chapter 1 (Rishab Shetty) – ₹90 crore worldwide on day 1
- KGF Chapter 1 – ₹25 crore worldwide on day 1
This shows just how far Kannada cinema has come in terms of scale, storytelling, and market reach.
Overseas Reception
Apart from its success in India, Kantara Chapter 1 has opened well in overseas markets. The $2 million international collection on day 1 reflects interest from audiences in the US, Middle East, and Australia.
With strong word of mouth, these numbers are expected to grow further during the weekend.
What Lies Ahead
The success of Kantara Chapter 1 is significant not only for Rishab Shetty but also for the Kannada film industry as a whole. It demonstrates that films rooted in regional culture and folklore can still find global audiences when presented with scale and conviction.
For now, all eyes are on how the film performs over its first weekend and whether it can maintain momentum beyond the initial hype. With positive audience response and strong advance bookings, Kantara Chapter 1 is on track to become one of the highest-grossing films of 2025.
Keywords Summary
- Kantara 2025 Chapter 1 has collected ₹90 crore worldwide on day 1.
- Box office collection Kantara Chapter 1 sets new benchmarks for Kannada cinema.
- Kantara Chapter 1 Rishab Shetty leads with powerful performance.
- Rukmini Vasanth movies continue to gain recognition.
- Kantara Chapter 1 movie is set a thousand years before the original.
- Kantara Chapter 1 day 1 collection shows strong pan-India appeal.
- Kantara 2 first day collection beats major Bollywood films.
- Kantara 2 budget and collection indicate a profitable run ahead.
- Trade tracker Sacnilk reports high occupancy rates.
- Kantara collection worldwide already among the top for 2025 releases.
- Actor-director Rishabh Shetty emerges as one of the strongest creative voices from Kannada cinema.
- The film’s Hindi version is performing well compared to recent Hindi movies.
- Collections surpass Prabhas’s early openings in some regions.
Conclusion
Kantara Chapter 1 has delivered a remarkable start at the box office, collecting ₹90 crore worldwide on its first day. With its combination of folklore, grandeur, and strong performances by Rishab Shetty and Rukmini Vasanth, the film has managed to attract audiences across languages.
If the trend continues, the prequel is poised to join the ranks of the biggest blockbusters in recent years, cementing Rishab Shetty’s place as one of the most influential storytellers in Indian cinema today.
