Rishab Shetty’s ‘Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1’ Shatters Records, Becomes 2nd Biggest Hit of 2025 After Overtaking ‘Saiyaara’

In a remarkable display of box office prowess, Rishab Shetty’s epic period drama, ‘Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1’, has ascended to the second highest-grossing film of 2025, a phenomenal achievement that saw it surpass the considerable success of Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda’s romantic entertainer, ‘Saiyaara’. The prequel to the 2022 cultural phenomenon, ‘Kantara’, has not only captured audience imagination with its deep dive into folklore but has also delivered staggering financial returns, cementing its place among the year’s top cinematic stories.

Box Office Juggernaut: A New Record Holder

‘Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1’, released on October 2, 2025, has exhibited an unprecedented box office run. The film registered a colossal opening day collection of ₹61.85 crore, signaling immediate audience engagement. Within just eight days of its release, the movie had amassed an astounding ₹336.50 crore at the domestic box office. This rapid accumulation of wealth positions ‘Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1’ as a major box office success, with projections suggesting it is on track to potentially cross the ₹500 crore mark. The film’s performance across multiple languages, with Kannada, Hindi, and Telugu versions contributing significantly, underscores its pan-India appeal.

Surpassing the Competition: A Strategic Ascent

The film’s climb to the second spot on the 2025 box office charts is particularly noteworthy given the competition. ‘Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1’ has outperformed ‘Saiyaara’, a film that itself achieved considerable success, crossing the ₹300 crore mark and being lauded as the highest-grossing love story in Indian cinema history. While ‘Saiyaara’ garnered praise for its performances and soundtrack, ‘Kantara’s’ blend of epic scale, rooted storytelling, and intense action resonated even more strongly with audiences, allowing it to overtake the romantic drama.

In stark contrast, other films have struggled to gain traction. Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor’s rom-com, ‘Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari’, has seen a muted performance, earning approximately ₹40 crore in its opening week and being significantly overshadowed by the success of ‘Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1’.

The ‘Kantara’ Phenomenon: Folklore Reimagined

Directed by and starring Rishab Shetty, ‘Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1’ delves into the origins of the mythology and folklore introduced in the first ‘Kantara’ film. Produced by Hombale Films on a budget of ₹125 crore, the movie explores the ancient roots of the Bhuta Kola ritual, set in pre-colonial coastal Karnataka. Critics have lauded the film for its grand scale, exceptional performances by Shetty, Jayaram, Rukmini Vasanth, and Gulshan Devaiah, and its visually stunning portrayal of regional traditions and spirituality. The film’s ability to weave regional stories into a universally appealing cinematic experience has been a key factor in its widespread success and critical acclaim.

As ‘Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1’ continues its successful run, it not only reinforces Rishab Shetty’s directorial vision but also highlights the growing power of diverse regional stories in the Indian entertainment landscape. Its triumph on the box office charts serves as a testament to the audience’s appetite for compelling narratives and grand cinematic spectacles.