Kantara: Chapter One Roars at Box Office, Rishab Shetty’s Prequel Earns ₹50 Crore on Day One

Bengaluru: One of the year’s most awaited releases, Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter One, hit the big screens on October 2 (Dusshera) and made an explosive start at the box office. The prequel, which had already generated massive buzz for its scale and mythological storytelling, has now translated the hype into solid numbers.

Box Office Report – Day One

According to early estimates from Sacnilk, the film raked in ₹50 crore net across India on its opening day (all languages combined).

• The Hindi version alone contributed ₹19–21 crore net.
• The film registered an overall 88.13% occupancy in Kannada, with near-total capacity in key regions:
  • Shivamogga: 99.25%
  • Kundapura: 99%
  • Manipal: 95.75%
  • Raichur: 94.75%
  • Bengaluru: 90.25%

This marks the second-biggest opening for a Kannada film, only behind Yash’s KGF: Chapter 1 (₹134.50 crore gross in 2022).

About the Film

Directed and written by Rishab Shetty, the movie explores the pre-colonial coastal Karnataka setting and dives deep into the origins of the Bhoota Kola ritual and ancient mythological lore touched upon in the first film.

The cast includes Jayaram, Rukmini Vasanth, Gulshan Devaiah, Pramod Shetty, Naveen D. Padil, Prakash Thuminad, Bala Rajwadi, and Sampath Ram, apart from Rishab Shetty in the lead role.

Released in Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam, the film had wide appeal across regions.

Grand War Sequence & Production Highlights

• A large-scale war sequence was shot with 500 fighters and 300 supporting cast members.
• Filmed on a 25-acre set in Karnataka’s mountains, the sequence took 50 days to complete under national and international experts.
• The film’s journey wasn’t without challenges:
  • A bus accident involving crew members in 2024 temporarily halted shooting.
  • The makers were fined ₹50,000 for environmental violations in a protected forest area.

Bottom Line

With its powerful opening, Kantara: Chapter One has lived up to expectations, reaffirming Rishab Shetty’s place among India’s most exciting filmmakers. If the momentum continues, the film is likely to set new records in the Kannada film industry and beyond.