Kantara: Chapter 1 Surpasses Chhaava as India's Top-Grossing Film in 2025
In a thrilling turn of events, Kantara: Chapter 1 has emerged as the highest-grossing film in India for 2025, dethroning Chhaava from its previous position. This achievement is all the more remarkable considering the film's steep drop in box office collections over the weekend, attributed to its digital release. Despite this setback, Kantara's total gross has surpassed Chhaava's, solidifying its position at the top of the annual rankings.
As of November 10, 2025, Kantara: Chapter 1 has grossed approximately Rs. 3.50 crore in its sixth weekend, marking a 65% drop from the previous weekend. This decline is attributed to the film's digital release, which disrupted its theatrical momentum. However, the film's total gross has still managed to surpass Chhaava's earnings, making it the highest-grossing film of the year in India.
With a running total of Rs. 697 crore, Kantara: Chapter 1 is just shy of the Rs. 700 crore milestone. The film was expected to reach this mark last week, but the digital release delayed its progress. It is anticipated that Kantara will achieve the Rs. 700 crore milestone in the next few days, despite the initial setback caused by the digital release.
The early digital release has resulted in a loss of Rs. 15-20 crore for the film, which, while not significant in the grand scheme, highlights the long-term impact on overall business. The audience's willingness to wait for premium films to become available for free online is a growing concern, as it threatens the theatrical experience. While the initial loss might be manageable, the film's business is already facing challenges, with midscale films experiencing a decline in theatrical audiences post-pandemic.
The top-grossing films in India for 2025 are as follows:
- Kantara: Chapter 1 - Rs. 697.00 crore
- Chhaava - Rs. 695.00 crore
- Saiyaara - Rs. 393.00 crore
- Coolie - Rs. 323.00 crore
- War 2 - Rs. 287.00 crore
- Mahavatar Narasimha - Rs. 268.00 crore
- They Call Him OG - Rs. 219.00 crore
- Sankranthiki Vasthunam - Rs. 217.00 crore
- Raid 2 - Rs. 201.00 crore
- Sitaare Zameen Par - Rs. 199.00 crore
Note: Mahavatar Narasimha's 3D charges add approximately Rs. 297 crore to its gross.
