Rishab Shetty’s Kantara Chapter 1 Creates History: First Film to Gross ₹200 Crore in Karnataka

Bengaluru, Sunday, October 19, 2025: Rishab Shetty has done it again. His new movie, Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1, has made a new record in Karnataka. This Kannada film has crossed the historic ₹200 crore gross collection mark only in Karnataka state. It is the first film ever to achieve this massive milestone.

Rishab Shetty’s Kantara Chapter 1: First Film to Gross ₹200 Crore in Karnataka

The news came on Sunday, October 19, 2025. This achievement confirms Rishab Shetty’s big success in his home state. He is the film’s writer, director, and lead actor. The film is a prequel to his 2022 blockbuster Kantara.

Kantara Chapter 1 was released on October 2, 2025. It opened to huge expectations. The movie has been unstoppable at the box office since day one. Its amazing run has broken many records.

The film became the highest-grossing film in Karnataka in just 14 days. It beat the lifetime collections of its prequel, Kantara (which grossed about ₹183.60 crore). It also surpassed K.G.F: Chapter 2’s Karnataka collection (around ₹182.96 crore). Now, it has set a new benchmark by entering the ₹200 crore club. This is a very rare success for a regional film.

The film’s strong performance is due to excellent word-of-mouth. The audience is loving the story and the powerful acting. The movie explores the ancient history of the ‘Boota Kola’ ritual. It is set in pre-colonial coastal Karnataka. The film beautifully shows regional folklore and spirituality.

Rishab Shetty’s mind-blowing performance is a major highlight. He played multiple characters with stunning skill. His direction and storytelling have impressed everyone.

A key factor helping this record was a High Court decision. The producers had challenged the state’s cap on movie ticket prices, which was limited to ₹200. Following the court’s stay order, theaters were allowed to charge higher prices. This helped the film’s box office revenue grow a lot.

The film has also done well outside Karnataka. It has crossed the ₹700 crore mark in its worldwide gross collection. Its domestic net collection is also over ₹500 crore.

Kantara Chapter 1: Bigger Sequels and Prequels

The original ‘Kantara’ (2022) was made with a much smaller budget. ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’ was made with a reported budget of around ₹125 crore. The huge box office collection justifies this big investment.

It also ensures that future parts of the ‘Kantara’ universe will get even more backing. Hombale Films, the production house, is now ready for even bigger projects. Fans are already waiting eagerly for more chapters from this epic franchise.

This huge success proves that local stories can have a big impact globally. Rishab Shetty has once again shown his talent. He has given a massive hit that celebrates the culture and beliefs of Karnataka.

The film is still running strong in theaters. It is expected to add more to its historic collection. The Kannada film industry is very happy with this groundbreaking achievement.