Kantara: Chapter 1 has stormed into theaters with an exceptional opening, collecting over ₹50 crore on its very first day and securing a spot among the top 10 openers of 2025. Released on October 2, the film benefitted from the Dussehra holiday and Gandhi Jayanti, pulling in large crowds across India. Reports suggest that the film earned around ₹60 crore net on Day 1, with the Hindi version alone contributing nearly ₹20 crore.
This remarkable performance shows the strength of Rishab Shetty’s storytelling, as the movie has managed to replicate and even surpass the buzz created by the original Kantara in 2022. High occupancy rates across multiple languages, including Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Hindi, point to the film’s wide appeal. Early trends also suggest that Kantara: Chapter 1 has a strong chance of crossing several major box office milestones in the coming weeks.
In this article, we’ll explore what Kantara: Chapter 1 is about, how it connects to the first film, and Rishab Shetty’s vision of creating a multi-chapter saga.
What Is Kantara: Chapter 1 About?
Unlike the 2022 film, which centered around land conflicts and spiritual traditions in a rural Karnataka village, Kantara: Chapter 1 goes further back in time. It serves as a prequel, set in pre-colonial coastal Karnataka, and explores the deeper mythological and spiritual origins that influenced the events of the first movie. At its core, the film dives into the rituals of Bhuta Kola and ancient cultural practices, shedding light on the spiritual lineage that shapes the story world. Rishab Shetty, who directs and stars in the film, takes on a different role here compared to his character in Kantara (2022). He is joined by a strong supporting cast, including Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, and Gulshan Devaiah. The connection between the two films lies in the shared universe. While the original Kantara hinted at folklore and mystical traditions, Chapter 1 gives viewers a closer look at the origins of these elements, setting the stage for what audiences witnessed in 2022.
Also Read: Kantara (2022) – Movie Review & Ending Explained
Rishab Shetty’s Chapter-Based Vision
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Rishab Shetty has been vocal about building the Kantara universe into a saga told in chapters. After the unexpected success of the first film, he revealed that the story was never meant to end there. In fact, he described Kantara (2022) as the “second part,” with Chapter 1 designed to serve as the foundation. By breaking the narrative into chapters, Shetty gives himself the freedom to explore different eras, characters, and conflicts without being restricted to one storyline. Each chapter can function as a standalone film while contributing to a larger mythological framework. This storytelling method also creates anticipation, as viewers know there is more of the universe to uncover. The strategy appears to be paying off. The overwhelming Day 1 numbers show that audiences are invested not just in a single movie but in the larger world Shetty is creating. If the subsequent chapters maintain this level of reception, Kantara could evolve into one of Indian cinema’s most significant long-term franchises.
Box Office Impact and What Lies Ahead:
The opening day earnings of Kantara: Chapter 1 are already being compared to some of the biggest releases of the year, placing the film among the top three openers of 2025. What makes the achievement even more striking is the scale of growth from the original Kantara, which had a modest opening before turning into a blockbuster through word of mouth.
With Chapter 1, the leap has been enormous, showing the impact of audience trust and the brand that Kantara has become. The true test, however, will lie in how the film sustains its momentum in the coming weeks. Consistency in collections will determine whether it can surpass the lifetime earnings of its predecessor.
Regardless of how the long-term numbers play out, Rishab Shetty has successfully launched Kantara into a multi-film journey. The strong debut of Chapter 1 suggests that audiences are ready to follow this world across several installments, making the franchise one of the most exciting cinematic ventures in recent times.
