When Kantara: Chapter 1 released recently in Hindi, few could have predicted the storm it would create at the box office. The sequel/prequel — built on the legacy of the 2022 Kantara entered the Hindi cinema space with strong expectations. The first day’s early trends suggest it may have already locked its place among the Top 10 biggest Hindi openers of 2025. Director-actor Rishab Shetty seems to have stirred up a box office spectacle, and Hindi audiences have responded decisively. This article dives into all the details: how much it earned, occupancy trends, comparisons, critic reactions, and what to watch for in the coming days.
Based on trade trackers and box office analysts, Kantara: Chapter 1 (Hindi version) is estimated to have collected around ₹19–21 crore on Day 1. These figures position it comfortably within the Top 10 Hindi openers of 2025. The film recorded an opening occupancy around 28.78% (excluding night shows) for the Hindi version. Meanwhile, occupancy trends in the morning sessions showed a strong performance it reportedly entered the top 5 opening occupancies of 2025 in Hindi, surpassing some big titles.
By 1 PM on opening day, the film’s Hindi version had reportedly earned ₹18.8 crore (as part of its cumulative collections). By 4 PM (across all versions/languages), Kantara: Chapter 1 had crossed ₹33+ crore in gross collections. These numbers show that while the Hindi version is doing strong business, the combined pan-India performance is even more dominant.
Although Kantara is originally a Kannada film, its Hindi version has struck a chord this time. Opening at ~₹20 crore (or slightly above) is rare for dubbed versions. This indicates cross-linguistic appeal and strong word-of-mouth momentum. By making the Top 10 Hindi openers list, Kantara 1 joins the league of big Bollywood names. It is reportedly ahead of many 2025 releases from mainstream Hindi cinema.
It outranked films like Sitaare Zameen Par and Sikandar in early occupancy numbers, showing that audiences responded well to early shows. Its release coincided with Dussehra and Gandhi Jayanti, two national holidays, which likely boosted footfalls across multiplexes and single screens. Before release, the Hindi version had already crossed significant pre-sales, surpassing many 2025 Hindi films in advance booking numbers.
Here’s how Kantara 1 stacks up (based on early metrics) against some leading Hindi films of 2025: War 2, Chhaava, Sikandar, Housefull 5, Saiyaara these are among the top openers of 2025. Kantara’s Hindi version, with ~₹19–21 crore, may not surpass all of them, but has managed to place itself among them. It is reported to have edged past Sitaare Zameen Par in advance booking and opening day comparisons. It also disrupted occupancy rankings, pushing some earlier films out of top morning occupancy slots.
Critical & Audience Response
While box office figures are impressive, the film’s reception is equally important. Early reviews and audience reactions show a mix:
- Many reviewers applaud Rishab Shetty’s vision, the cinematography, and the worldbuilding rooted in folklore and mythology.
- Some criticism is directed at the narrative structure a few viewers felt pacing issues or underdeveloped arcs in parts.
- On social media, fans are praising the visual scale, the emotional depth, and especially the climactic sequences.
- The Hindi audience appears to be engaging with the film enthusiastically ticket sales in national chains are reported to be around 60,000–65,000 for the Hindi version.
What to Watch for in Next Days
To see whether Kantara: Chapter 1 maintains momentum, here are the key factors:
- Sustainability over the weekend: Day 2 and Day 3 will test whether the initial curiosity translates into repeat viewership.
- Word-of-mouth: The reviews and audience talk will drive footfalls positive reviews could push collections upward.
- Competition: Other new releases or Bollywood films will test its hold.
- Language versions: Kannada, Tamil, Telugu versions will keep fueling cumulative numbers.
- Screen expansion: If more screens are allocated in Hindi regions, the Hindi version can scale further.
Kantara: Chapter 1’s Hindi version has arrived with a roar. An estimated opening of ~₹19–21 crore Day 1, strong occupancy, and solid advance bookings are enough to place it among Top 10 Hindi openers of 2025. While it may not be outdoing the biggest blockbusters yet, its performance is exceptional for a dubbed release.
Rishab Shetty’s gamble to bring a deeply regional mythological tale to Hindi audiences seems to be paying off. If the film can sustain its strength aover the weekend and beyond, it could end up being one of the surprise hits of the year.
