The advance booking for Kantara 2: A Legend Chapter-1 has witnessed a phenomenal response in Karnataka, setting the stage for a record-breaking opening weekend.
Early figures indicate that the film has already amassed ₹6.63 crore from advance ticket sales across the state, with 1215 shows scheduled. Notably, more than 520 shows have been declared full, reflecting the massive anticipation among audiences.
As per Sacnilk data, the movie has estimated to have earned around Rs 9 crore from all language from the pre-sales. So far, 1.54 lakh tickets have been sold across the country.
Karnataka: The Stronghold
Karnataka remains the undisputed backbone of Kantara 2’s pre-release momentum. Bengaluru city alone accounts for the lion’s share, contributing nearly ₹4.88 crore from 725 shows. The demand here has been so overwhelming that 324 shows have sold out completely during pre-sales, while several others are filling fast.
In Mysuru, advance booking collections stand at ₹51.95 lakh from 76 shows, with occupancy climbing steadily. Coastal city Mangaluru too has registered an exceptional performance, clocking ₹31.5 lakh from 56 shows-a remarkable achievement given the scale of screenings there. Overall, the occupancy rate in Karnataka stands at 33%, which is significantly high compared to other states.
Over 1.2 lakh tickets for the Kannada version of the movie have been sold across the country, the data said.
Beyond Karnataka
Outside Karnataka, the film’s performance is mixed but growing. States like Bihar (11% occupancy) and Uttar Pradesh (13% occupancy) show promising signs with several shows nearing capacity. In contrast, metros like Delhi (₹5.57 lakh, 1% occupancy) and Maharashtra (₹29.25 lakh, 4% occupancy) are yet to pick up steam despite higher ticket sales in absolute terms.
In Kerala, Kantara 2 has collected ₹9.29 lakh from over 1000 shows, though occupancy is at just 3%, reflecting the slow start for non-Kannada versions. Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu too are lagging behind with modest numbers, despite the film’s release in multiple languages including Telugu and Tamil.
The Bigger Picture
Industry trackers note that the film’s early sales are heavily Kannada-centric, with over 70% of advance booking revenue coming from Karnataka alone. However, given the growing word-of-mouth and Rishab Shetty’s cult following after the original Kantara, trade experts expect the numbers in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam belts to climb closer to release.
The contrast between Karnataka and other states highlights the franchise’s regional pull, but also its potential to expand pan-India once reviews and audience feedback start pouring in.