Kantara Chapter 1 Smashes ₹300 Crore Mark in 4 Days — Outpaces KGF, HanuMan
In a whirlwind four days, Kantara Chapter 1 has shattered expectations — crossing the ₹300 crore barrier globally, and overtaking box-office heavyweights like KGF – Chapter 1 and HanuMan. Hindustan Times
Box Office Surge: What the Numbers Say
On its fourth day, the film recorded a domestic net of ₹61 crore, propelling its India total to roughly ₹223.25 crore (₹268 crore gross). Hindustan Times That surge cemented Kantara Chapter 1’s status as having the second-highest opening weekend ever for a Kannada film — only behind KGF – Chapter 2’s staggering ₹380 crore domestic haul in 2022. Hindustan Times
Meanwhile, over international markets, trade analysts estimate the film collected in excess of USD 6 million, bringing the global total to ₹325 crore within just four days. Hindustan Times
Overtaking the Giants
In doing so, Kantara Chapter 1 has outpaced multiple major titles:
- It eclipsed the lifetime earnings of HanuMan (≈ ₹298 crore worldwide). Hindustan Times
- It also overtook KGF – Chapter 1, which had a worldwide total of ~₹248 crore. Hindustan Times
That means Kantara Chapter 1 now ranks as the third-highest-grossing Kannada film ever, trailing only behind KGF – Chapter 2 (≈ ₹1248 crore) and the original Kantara (≈ ₹400 crore). Hindustan Times The trajectory suggests it could even surpass its predecessor before this week is out. Hindustan Times
What’s Behind the Success
A few elements have aligned in Kantara Chapter 1’s favour:
- It is a prequel to the 2022 sleeper hit Kantara, anchoring it in fan anticipation. Hindustan Times
- With Rishab Shetty at the helm (writer, director, and star) and a cast that includes Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, and Gulshan Devaiah, the film has both star power and creative continuity. Hindustan Times
- The storytelling, visuals, production values, and genre appeal have strongly resonated with audiences across languages and regions. Hindustan Times
