Rishab Shetty’s period-folk action thriller Kantara: A Legend — Chapter 1 continues its unstoppable run at the Indian box office, crossing the ₹500 crore domestic milestone during its second weekend while amassing over ₹600 crore worldwide. With Diwali approaching, the film stands out in a year of muted festival releases.
Second Weekend Box Office (Oct 10–12, 2025)
Kantara: Chapter 1 enjoyed a massive second weekend, maintaining strong occupancy across regions:
Friday (Oct 10): ₹22.25 Cr
Saturday (Oct 11): ₹39.00 Cr
Sunday (Oct 12, rough estimate): ₹40.00 Cr
Total India net for the weekend: ₹101.25 Cr
Through Day 12, the film’s cumulative India net is ₹440.22 Cr, with a reported worldwide gross exceeding ₹600 Cr. The weekend alone accounted for nearly a quarter of its total domestic net, underscoring strong repeat viewership and word-of-mouth momentum.
Kantara Enters the ₹500 Crore Club
Kantara: Chapter 1 is now the 16th Indian film and 9th South Indian film to surpass ₹500 Cr gross in India. Its second-weekend surge places it alongside 2025 only blockbuster like Chhaava, demonstrating that folk-action narratives can resonate nationwide.
The film’s pan-India appeal is further highlighted by strong collections across Kannada (Ka), Hindi (Hi), Telugu (Te), Tamil (Ta), and Malayalam (Mal) markets, reflecting sustained audience engagement in both urban and regional circuits.
Regional Strength and Audience Response
The daywise box office data shows that Kantara continues to dominate multiple language markets:
Kannada and Hindi territories contributed the largest share of the weekend gross.
Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam regions posted solid numbers, reinforcing pan-India appeal.
Repeat audiences and high occupancy in multiplexes and Tier-2 city theaters fueled Saturday and Sunday spikes (₹39–40 Cr).
This cross-region strength is critical for sustaining momentum during the second week and the upcoming Diwali festive period.
Other Releases at the Weekend Box Office
While Kantara thrives, other films have delivered modest performances:
Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari (11 days) — India net: ₹49.60 Cr. Performed steadily in urban circuits, with limited pan-India traction.
Idli Kadai (12 days) — India net: ₹48.08 Cr. Strong in Tamil regions, but smaller reach in northern and central India.
These releases reinforce Kantara’s dominance, as no new titles posed a serious challenge over the October 10–12 weekend.
Diwali 2025: Muted Festive Season and Lack of Tentpole Releases
As the 2025 Diwali season unfolds, the release lineup paints an unusual picture:
The leading Hindi films — Thamma, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, and Mahayoddha Rama — are joined by Tamil, Telugu, and smaller South releases like Dude, Bison: Kaalamaadan, Diesel, Telusu Kada, and K-Ramp.
What’s missing: no single tentpole South release, no pan-India spectacle, and no major Bollywood mega-projects to light up the festival.
This scarcity of large-scale releases means the festive lights for the Indian film industry are dimmer this year, giving Kantara a rare opportunity to dominate screens, audiences, and the conversation heading into Diwali.
The Road Ahead
With Diwali approaching, Kantara’s trajectory is set to continue its upward climb. Strong weekday performance and sustained audience interest could push cumulative India net well beyond ₹500 Cr, making it the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025, potentially surpassing Chhaava.
Rishab Shetty’s direction, the film’s folk-action appeal, and multi-language resonance give it a unique edge in a festival season otherwise lacking major tentpole competition. Its combination of engaging storytelling, cultural relevance, and mass-action spectacle ensures Kantara’s box office dominance continues into the holiday week.
Kantara: Chapter 1 has proven that regional storytelling, when fused with mass-scale action, can achieve extraordinary pan-India success. In a Diwali season with few blockbuster competitors, the film is set to consolidate its box office dominance and potentially redefine 2025’s theatrical landscape.
Stay tuned to Planet of Films for weekly Indian box office updates, analysis, and insights on the country’s cinematic trends.
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