Mangaluru: Rishab Shetty’s epic film Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 continues to perform exceptionally at the box office, accumulating over ₹800 crore globally within just 25 days of its release. The sequel to the 2022 sensation Kantara has now become the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025, exceeding the lifetime earnings of Chhaava. Early trade estimates indicate that the film garnered around ₹10 crore on Day 25, bringing its total in India to ₹589 crore across all languages. The film’s impressive occupancy rates—Kannada (40.51%), Hindi (35.72%), Tamil (49.24%), Telugu (26.50%), and Malayalam (24.81%)—demonstrate its broad appeal throughout the country. Produced by Hombale Films, known for KGF and Salaar, the mythological action drama has reportedly surpassed ₹809 crore in global earnings.
Independent trackers like Sacnilk estimate the worldwide total to be approximately ₹775 crore after 21 days. Kantara: Chapter 1 debuted with ₹61.85 crore on its first day—one of the largest openings in Kannada cinema history—and reached ₹337.4 crore within its first week. Karnataka remains its top market with ₹181 crore, followed by ₹192 crore from the Hindi audience. The film has outdone its predecessor, which earned ₹407.82 crore globally in 2022. Actress Rukmini Vasanth, portraying Kanakavathi, mentioned the need to “emotionally connect with the rituals and music” of her character. Director and lead actor Rishab Shetty suggested that Chapter 1 is part of a broader cinematic universe grounded in folklore and spirituality.
With full theaters and repeat viewers, Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 exemplifies the potential for regional stories to achieve global impact.