Theatres across India are witnessing a wave of excitement as Rishab Shetty’s latest film, Kantara A Legend: Chapter 1, takes the box office by storm. The actor-director’s rustic drama has struck a chord with audiences nationwide, collecting close to ₹60 crore (net) within days of release. Strong reviews and positive word-of-mouth are driving housefull shows across the country, setting the stage for even bigger milestones in the days ahead.
Alongside the film’s success, Rishab Shetty’s personal reflection on social media has drawn widespread attention. In a resurfaced post from 2016, the filmmaker had expressed disappointment over not being able to secure even a single evening show for one of his films. Fast forward to 2025, and Kantara Chapter 1 has opened across more than 5,000 screens with back-to-back housefull shows.
2016 ರಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಪ್ರದರ್ಶನಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಒದ್ದಾಡಿದ ದಿನದಿಂದ, 5000ಕ್ಕೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚು
housefull ಶೋಗಳ ಈ ಅದ್ಭುತ ಪಯಣ. ಇದು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗಿದ್ದು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಪ್ರೀತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಬೆಂಬಲದಿಂದ ಮಾತ್ರ. ಇದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ನಾನು ನಿಮಗೆ ಸದಾ ಋಣಿ.From struggling to get one evening show in 2016 to 5000+ housefull shows in 2025.
This journey is… https://t.co/vuSfaVIAA2— Rishab Shetty (@shetty_rishab) October 2, 2025
Sharing his journey, Rishab wrote that moving from the struggle of one evening screening to thousands of packed shows across India has been possible only because of the audience’s love, their unwavering support, and God’s grace. He also thanked everyone who contributed to his growth, calling this milestone deeply personal and humbling. His post struck a chord online, quickly going viral, with fans and industry peers applauding his hard work, focus, and discipline.
The film’s box office momentum has also been noteworthy. Despite a relatively slow response to advance bookings, collections surged dramatically upon release. Ticketing platform BookMyShow recorded sales of nearly 1.28 million tickets on the opening day itself — the highest day-one sales recorded in 2025 so far.
With Kantara A Legend: Chapter 1 continuing its strong run, the film is now on track to set new records, further consolidating Rishab Shetty’s reputation as one of the most impactful storytellers in Indian cinema today.
