(Image Source: X.com/@RadhaVasamsetty)
Rishab Shetty's highly awaited film 'Kantara: Chapter 1' was released in the cinemas of India on October 2, 2025, and opened with a massive opening as per its budget. The morning shows saw poor turnout, but good word-of-mouth of the premiere shows helped the bookings gain speed during evening and night shows on the same day.
As per the tracking portal, Sacnilk, 'Kantara: Chapter 1' is estimated to have collected Rs 60 crore net (gross-taxes excluded) in India on its opening day. Given the relatively small budget of around Rs 125 crore for a movie of this magnitude, the Day 1 business is phenomenal.
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According to estimates, 'Kantara: Chapter 1' is supposed to have made approximately Rs 19-21 crore net in the Hindi belt. The figure may see growth based on the solo screens. The Rishab Shetty-starrer has witnessed the second-biggest opening for a Kannada film in the Hindi market, behind Yash's 'KGF: Chapter 2,' which saw a huge Rs 54 crore nett.
The Kannada version of the film featured an overall theater occupancy of 88.13 percent on Thursday. The Telugu, Hindi, and Tamil dubbed versions of the film have registered the same at 75.34 percent, 29.84 percent, and 71.42 percent, respectively.
'Kantara: Chapter 1' is a prequel to the 2022 film of the same title, which has been penned, directed, and performed by Rishab Shetty. Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, and Gulshan Devaiah also star in important roles in the period mythological drama. Hombale Films produces the film with music by Ajaneesh Loknath, cinematography by Arvind S. Kashyap, and editing by Suresh Mallaiah.
The movie takes us to meet Berme (Rishab Shetty), a forest tribe warrior who battles the absolute royal family of the Bangra Kingdom. The battle is fueled by the greed of the royal family to take over the sacred lands of the forest. The story revolves around the old tales of the local demigods, the Daivas, and how they originated and became the saviors of the downtrodden. The first chapter ends with Berme's intense possession by the Guliga Daiva as he unleashes divine wrath upon the oppressors to protect his people and the magical forest.
