Rishab Shetty’s much-awaited film, *Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1*, has opened with a storm at the Indian box office. Directed by Rishab 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 (all languages) on its very first day, marking one of the biggest openings ever for a Kannada film.
The pan-India release benefited from massive hype, strong advance bookings, and glowing early reviews. In Karnataka, the film registered an extraordinary 88.13% occupancy on Thursday, clearly reflecting its home-ground dominance. According to Sacnilk data, the film maintained a solid 75.34% occupancy in the Telugu states, while Tamil Nadu recorded 71.42%. The Hindi version, though relatively lower, still managed 29.84% occupancy, contributing an estimated Rs 19-21 crore from the North Indian market alone—a strong figure for a Kannada-origin film.
The cast, led by Rishab Shetty himself alongside Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, and Jayaram, played a key role in attracting audiences nationwide. With word-of-mouth spreading rapidly, trade experts predict the film will witness growth over the weekend, particularly in Hindi-speaking regions.
The difference compared to its predecessor is striking. The original *Kantara* opened modestly at around Rs 1.27 crore and relied on positive word-of-mouth to achieve a lifetime total of Rs 81.1 crore. In contrast, *Kantara: Chapter 1* has delivered an opening figure that is over 1400% higher, setting the stage for a historic box office run.
With its first-day collection, *Kantara: Chapter 1* is already being counted among the frontrunners for the biggest blockbuster of 2025. If the film sustains its momentum, it could even challenge the opening records set by recent pan-India giants like *RRR* and *KGF: Chapter 2*.
All eyes are now on the weekend collections, which will determine just how far Rishab Shetty’s mythological epic can go. One thing is certain — *Kantara: 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
