Rishab Shetty’s Kantara Chapter 1 continues to dominate the Indian box office even after four weeks of release. The film has grossed an impressive ₹679.50 crore in India so far. However, before it could touch the ₹700 crore milestone, the movie faced a major roadblock — an early digital release, which might impact its ongoing theatrical performance.
Strong Hold After Four Weeks: ₹679.50 Crore Total in India
According to box office reports, Kantara Chapter 1 collected around ₹40.25 crore in its fourth week, dropping just 53% from the previous holiday-boosted week — an excellent hold by industry standards. Despite the post-holiday slowdown, audience turnout remained solid.
Here’s the week-wise box office breakdown for India:
- Week 1 (8 days): ₹384.50 crore
- Week 2: ₹169.00 crore
- Week 3: ₹85.75 crore
- Week 4 (daily collections):
- Friday – ₹6.50 crore
- Saturday – ₹10.00 crore
- Sunday – ₹11.00 crore
- Monday – ₹3.50 crore
- Tuesday – ₹4.00 crore
- Wednesday – ₹2.75 crore
- Thursday – ₹2.50 crore
Total Gross (India): ₹679.50 crore
Just Short of the ₹700 Crore Mark
The film is now less than ₹15 crore away from becoming the highest-grossing film of the year in India and about ₹20 crore short of reaching the ₹700 crore milestone. Under normal circumstances, Kantara Chapter 1 was on track to comfortably cross ₹710–₹720 crore in its lifetime run, but the early digital release might slow that progress.
Early Digital Release May Hurt Box Office Growth
The biggest challenge for the film came with its early digital release, barely four weeks after hitting theatres. While it’s not available for free streaming but rather on a rental basis, the difference is minimal since it still risks encouraging piracy, which can dent its theatrical revenue.
Industry analysts believe the timing could affect its week-five collections and limit its box office momentum.
A Wrong Trend for the Industry
Trade experts have expressed concern that early OTT releases are conditioning audiences to wait for streaming instead of going to theatres. They argue that even though a film may not earn huge numbers after four weeks, releasing it online too soon kills long-term theatrical business. Viewers might think, “Why spend money in theatres when it’ll be online soon?” — a mindset that could harm the film industry in the long run.
Territorial Breakdown of Collections in India
| Region | Gross (in ₹ crore) |
|---|---|
| Karnataka | 227.75 |
| Andhra Pradesh & Telangana | 98.25 |
| Tamil Nadu | 68.00 |
| Kerala | 55.25 |
| Rest of India | 230.25 |
| Total (India) | 679.50 crore |
Kantara Chapter 1 has delivered one of the strongest box office runs of 2025, maintaining excellent word-of-mouth and audience support across regions. While the ₹700 crore mark now looks challenging due to its digital release, there’s no doubt that the film has already cemented its place among India’s biggest blockbusters of all time.
