Rishab Shetty’s much-awaited film *Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1* has made a spectacular debut at the Indian box office. Directed by Rishab Shetty himself and produced by Hombale Films, the movie was released on October 2, coinciding with the festive occasions of Dussehra and Gandhi Jayanti. It earned a staggering Rs 60 crore across India (in all languages) on its very first day, marking one of the biggest openings ever for a Kannada film.
The film’s pan-India release benefited immensely from massive hype, strong advance bookings, and glowing early reviews. In its home state of Karnataka, *Kantara: Chapter 1* saw an extraordinary 88.13% occupancy on Thursday, underscoring its local dominance.
According to Sacnilk, the Telugu-speaking states recorded a solid 75.34% occupancy, while Tamil Nadu reported 71.42%. The Hindi version, although registering relatively lower numbers, still managed a commendable 29.84% occupancy. This contributed an estimated Rs 19-21 crore from the North Indian market alone—a strong figure for a Kannada-origin film.
The ensemble cast, led by Rishab Shetty alongside Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, and Jayaram, has played a significant role in attracting audiences nationwide. With positive word-of-mouth spreading rapidly, trade experts predict that the film’s collections will grow even more over the weekend, especially in the Hindi-speaking regions.
When compared to its predecessor, the difference is remarkable. The original *Kantara* opened modestly with around Rs 1.27 crore but built its success through word-of-mouth to amass a lifetime total of Rs 81.1 crore. In sharp contrast, *Kantara: Chapter 1* has delivered an opening day figure that is over 1400% higher, setting the stage for an unprecedented box office journey.
With such an impressive start, *Kantara: Chapter 1* is already considered one of the frontrunners for the biggest blockbuster of 2025. If it maintains this momentum, the film could even challenge the opening records of recent pan-India blockbusters like *RRR* and *KGF: Chapter 2*.
All eyes are now on the upcoming weekend collections, which will reveal just how far Rishab Shetty’s mythological epic can go. One thing is certain: *Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1* has arrived with a roar.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/kantara-chapter-1-box-office-collection-day-1-rishab-shettys-film-opens-to-a-thunderous-60-crore-hindi-share-nearly-one-third
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