Box Office Clash: Kantara Chapter 1 smashes Day 1, will Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari bounce back by weekend?

The first Thursday of October turned into a festival for movie lovers, with two much-awaited films arriving together on the big screen. Rishab Shetty’s mythological prequel, Kantara A Legend: Chapter 1 and Varun Dhawan–Janhvi Kapoor’s romantic entertainer Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, released on October 2, coinciding with Dussehra and Gandhi Jayanti. The clash created a buzz across the country, and Day 1 numbers show an exciting start for both films, though the winner is clear.

Kantara Chapter 1 Roars at the Box Office

Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter 1 has proved once again that Hombale Films knows how to pull crowds. The Kannada version alone saw an impressive occupancy of over 88%, while the dubbed Tamil and Telugu versions also drew strong numbers. The Hindi version was slightly lower at 29.8% but still contributed to a massive Day 1 collection in the range of Rs 19–21 crore nett. This makes it the second-biggest Hindi opening ever for a Kannada film, behind only KGF: Chapter 2.

The film dives into a period mythological setting, exploring the roots of the lore introduced in the 2022 blockbuster Kantara. With Shetty back in the director’s chair, also playing the lead alongside Rukmini Vasanth, Jayaram, and Gulshan Devaiah, the film carries a raw intensity that has clearly struck a chord. Strong word of mouth and single-screen pull suggest the collections could grow further through the long festive weekend.

Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari Finds Its Footing

On the other hand, Dharma Productions’ Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, helmed by Shashank Khaitan, had a softer but steady start. The film earned Rs 9.25 crore on Day 1 with an overall Hindi occupancy of about 34%. Evening and night shows, especially in metros like Chennai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata, gave the film its best push, with night shows peaking near 39%.

Starring Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor, alongside Sanya Malhotra and Rohit Saraf, the film blends romance, comedy, and family drama, the kind of formula Dharma is known for. While the opening isn’t record-breaking, its genre and festive timing may allow it to pick up steam across family audiences over the weekend.

What Lies Ahead

The battle lines are drawn, but both films are targeting different audiences. Kantara Chapter 1 is riding on the power of scale and cultural connect, while Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari banks on lighthearted entertainment and star appeal. With Dussehra holidays extending into the weekend, the coming days will reveal if Varun and Janhvi’s charm can close the gap or if Rishab Shetty’s mythological saga continues its dominant run.