This Dussehra, Bollywood’s sole theatrical release is the romantic comedy Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, starring Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Sanya Malhotra, and Rohit Saraf. Despite its festive timing, the film faces stiff competition from a non-Hindi original — Rishab Shetty’s Kantara Chapter 1, which arrives with strong buzz in its Hindi dubbed version.
Advance bookings reflect the trend. By Monday noon, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari had sold nearly 9,000 tickets nationwide, with collections touching ₹29.32 lakh. While respectable for a rom-com, trade experts expected stronger numbers ahead of a major holiday release.
In contrast, Kantara Chapter 1’s Hindi version had already sold over 11,000 tickets by the same time, grossing ₹33 lakh despite limited screen openings so far. Given the original Kantara’s success in 2022, when its Hindi dub alone grossed ₹84 crore, industry watchers expect the prequel to dominate the box office once again.
Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, directed by Shashank Khaitan, is a light-hearted rom-com about two couples navigating love and second chances. Kantara Chapter 1, meanwhile, is set ten centuries before the events of the original film, delving into mythological origins with Rishab Shetty in a new role, alongside Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, and Gulshan Devaiah.
Both films hit theatres on October 2, but early signs suggest Rishab Shetty’s Kannada prequel could leave Bollywood’s festive release trailing behind.
