History has been made at the Karnataka Box Office! Kantara Chapter 1, starring and directed by the phenomenal Rishab Shetty, has officially crossed the 200 crore mark in its home state. This is not just a big number; it’s a new record.
The film collected around 5 crore on its nineteenth day (which was also Diwali), pushing its total collection in Karnataka to a massive Rs. 202.50 crore. This makes Karnataka only the fourth state in Indian cinema history to have a film gross over 200 crores.
India’s 200 Crore Grossers (By State)
This is a very exclusive club that was, until now, only occupied by Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Karnataka is the newest member of this elite list. Here’s a look at the films that have achieved this massive milestone in a single state:
- Baahubali: The Conclusion (2017) – Rs. 220.00 cr (Maharashtra)
- RRR (2022) – Rs. 226.00 cr (Andhra Pradesh)
- Ponniyin Selvan: I (2022) – Rs. 222.00 cr (Tamil Nadu)
- Leo (2023) – Rs. 232.00 cr (Tamil Nadu)
- The Greatest of All Time (2024) – Rs. 219.00 cr (Tamil Nadu)
- Pushpa: The Rule (2024) – Rs. 255.00 cr (Maharashtra)
- Chhaava (2025) – Rs. 330.00 cr (Maharashtra)
- Kantara: Chapter 1 (2025) – Rs. 202.50 cr (Karnataka)
Beating Its Own Record
Kantara Chapter 1 has been on a record-breaking spree since it was released. Just last week, it raced past the lifetime collections of the original Kantara to become the highest-grossing film ever in Karnataka.
The film is holding incredibly strong at the box office. At its current speed, trade experts are projecting a final lifetime collection of around Rs. 230-235 crore. This would be a solid Rs. 60 crore more than the previous record, which is simply outstanding.
The Ticket Price Factor
A significant role in these huge collections has been played by the ticket prices. Just before the film’s release, the state government had tried to put a price limit on movie tickets.
However, the makers of Kantara Chapter 1 challenged this in court and won a stay on the order. This allowed theatres to have flexible pricing, which helped the film reach the 200 crore mark faster. If the price cap was in place, the film would have most likely still become the record grosser and hit 200 crores, but it would have taken a lot longer.
Footfalls vs. Collections
In terms of tickets sold, the film has sold nearly 70 lakh tickets in Karnataka so far. It is expected to end its run with around 85 lakh footfalls.
This is more than KGF (75 lakh) and KGF 2 (70 lakh), but it will be lower than the original Kantara, which had nearly 1 crore footfalls. Of course, the first film had lower ticket prices, which allowed more people to watch it multiple times. If Chapter 1 had normal ticket prices, its footfall numbers might have been even closer to its predecessor.
About Kantara Chapter 1
Kantara Chapter 1 is a Kannada-language action-thriller and a prequel to the 2022 blockbuster Kantara. Written and directed by Rishab Shetty, it also stars him in the lead role. The film explores the backstory of the deity Panjurli Daiva and the origins of the traditions shown in the first film.
(Also read: Shakti Shalini Release Date Is Here: Aneet Padda Led Horror Comedy To Release On December 24, 2026 )
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