Rishab Shetty's 'Kantara: Chapter 1' Circles ₹300 Crore at Global Box-Office, Special Screening at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter 1 is proving to be a cultural phenomenon. On October 5, the Kannada epic was screened at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, an honour rarely extended to regional cinema. The special showcase, which ran across three slots from morning to night, signalled a moment of recognition for a story deeply rooted in Karnataka’s folklore, faith, and cultural heritage.

The celebration comes at a time when Kantara: Chapter 1 is on an extraordinary box office run. Since its release on October 2, the film has dominated ticket windows nationwide. In just four days, it is already inching towards the ₹300 crore mark, a number that places it among the fastest-growing Indian films of the year. Theatres across states have reported houseful shows, with audiences drawn to Shetty’s unique blend of mysticism, spirituality, and action.

Industry voices have been quick to take note. Superstars including Prabhas, Jr NTR, and Yash have publicly lauded Shetty’s vision, calling the film a benchmark for regional cinema breaking into the national mainstream. Trade trackers suggest its momentum could soon rival some of the biggest pan-India blockbusters of recent years.

Directed by and starring Rishab Shetty, the film features a powerful supporting cast including Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, and Gulshan Devaiah. Its immersive world is elevated by B. Ajaneesh Loknath’s score, Arvind S. Kashyap’s cinematography, and editing by Suresh Mallaiah. Together, the team has crafted an experience that has resonated with audiences across languages and regions.

For Hombale Films, the banner behind Kantara: Chapter 1, the success reaffirms its position at the forefront of Indian storytelling. After backing franchises like KGF and Salaar, the banner has played a key role in bringing regional cinema into the national spotlight, consistently producing large-scale projects that reach audiences beyond Karnataka. Their last release, the mythological animation feature Mahavatar Narsimha, was also a surprise hit.