Kantara Chapter 1: KL Rahul Is ‘Blown Away By The Magic’ Of Rishab Shetty’s Performance

Cricketer KL Rahul has joined the list of celebs praising Rishab Shetty’s latest cinematic masterpiece, Kantara Chapter 1. The Indian batsman also recently watched the film and took to social media to express

his excitement for the actor-director’s powerful performance and the film’s immersive storytelling.

Taking to his Instagram stories, KL Rahul shared the trailer of the film and wrote, “Just watched Kantara. Blown away by the magic @rishabshettyofficial has created yet again. All heart and beautifully represents the people and the belief of mangaluru.” Earlier, also many other celebrities have praised the film.

Take a look here:

Kantara Chapter 1 Box Office Collection

According to early estimates by industry tracker Sacnilk.com, the film amassed more than Rs 30.50 crore net on its fifth day across all languages. These numbers take the total domestic collection to over Rs 255 crore, making it only the fourth Kannada film to achieve this feat. The film opened with Rs 61.85 crore on Dussehra, followed by Rs 46 crore on Friday. During the weekend, the film minted more than Rs 110 crore. Kantara Chapter 1 minted Rs 55 crore on Saturday and Rs 63 crore on Sunday. The film’s massive weekend haul has made the mythological thriller the highest-grossing Kannada film of 2025 so far.

Kantara: Chapter 1 Breaks Records

With this, Kantara Chapter 1 has outperformed major 2025 releases, including the lifetime collection of Salman Khan’s Sikandar and Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava. In addition to this, Rishab Shetty’s film has emerged as the third highest-grossing Indian film of the year, trailing only behind Rajinikanth’s Coolie, which earned Rs 65 crore, and Pawan Kalyan’s They Call Him OG (63.75 crore).

Kantara: Chapter 1: Storyline And Cast

Directed, written by and starring Rishab Shetty, Kantara Chapter 1 is set during the Kadamba period in Karnataka. Often regarded as a Golden Era in Indian history, it was that period when the Kadambas were influential rulers who shaped the architecture and culture of the region.

The mythological thriller also brings together a stellar ensemble of talented actors like Rukmini Vasanth, Rakesh Poojari, Jayaram and Gulshan Devaiah in key roles. Released in multiple languages, including Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and English, the film’s nationwide appeal has significantly contributed to its box office dominance.

With overwhelming critical and commercial success, Kantara Chapter 1 is setting a new standard for Kannada and Indian cinema.