A Historic Day for Anime in India
The wait is over, and history has been made. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, the highly anticipated first film in the trilogy adapting the anime’s climactic arc, opened in Indian theaters yesterday and stunned the industry with an unprecedented ₹13 crore collection on Day 1. This marks the biggest-ever opening for an anime film in India, outpacing global hits like Demon Slayer: Mugen Train and Jujutsu Kaisen 0.
What was once a niche market has now exploded into mainstream recognition. The Indian box office, often dominated by Bollywood blockbusters and South Indian tentpoles, is witnessing something remarkable—anime is no longer an outsider genre, but a force to reckon with.
Breaking the ₹10 Crore Barrier
Industry analysts had predicted a strong opening for Infinity Castle, but few expected it to cross the ₹10 crore threshold on its debut day. The ₹13 crore figure includes earnings from both the original Japanese version (with subtitles) and the Hindi-dubbed release, which played a major role in drawing younger audiences and first-time anime watchers.
By comparison:
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Mugen Train opened to around ₹5.5 crore in India back in 2021.
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Jujutsu Kaisen 0 managed ₹4 crore on Day 1.
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One Piece Film: Red peaked at around ₹2.2 crore on opening day.
Infinity Castle nearly doubled these numbers overnight, confirming India’s growing appetite for anime content on the big screen.
Why the Infinity Castle Arc Is Special
The Infinity Castle Arc is one of the most beloved sections of the Demon Slayer manga. It plunges Tanjiro, Nezuko, and the Hashira into Muzan Kibutsuji’s shifting lair—a surreal battleground where multiple fights erupt simultaneously. Manga readers have long considered it the crown jewel of the series, and Ufotable’s decision to adapt it as a movie trilogy only fueled the hype.
In India, buzz was amplified by:
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Hindi dubbing – making the film accessible to a mass audience.
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Fan-driven campaigns – social media groups and anime communities spread word of mouth weeks in advance.
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Cinematic spectacle – Ufotable’s reputation for unmatched animation quality ensured audiences wanted to watch it on the biggest screen possible.
Audience Response: Sold-Out Shows & Standing Ovations
Reports from across metro cities—Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Chennai—indicate sold-out IMAX and premium screenings. Fans dressed as Tanjiro and Nezuko were spotted at theaters, echoing the cosplay excitement often seen in Japan.
In several theaters, audiences reportedly cheered during battle sequences and applauded during the credits. The Hindi-dubbed version also trended online, with many fans praising the voice actors for staying true to the spirit of the original while making it locally relatable.
Global Box Office Buzz
The Indian box office triumph is part of a larger global wave. According to early estimates, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 has grossed over $45 million worldwide in its opening weekend, with Japan contributing the lion’s share.
India’s ₹13 crore (approx. $1.6 million) Day 1 haul positions the country as one of the top five international markets for the film. This further cements India’s rising importance in the global anime economy.
Why Anime Is Booming in India
The success of Infinity Castle is not an isolated phenomenon. Over the past five years, anime has steadily grown from a subculture into a mainstream form of entertainment across India.
Key reasons include:
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Streaming Platforms – Services like Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Muse Asia on YouTube brought easy access to anime content.
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Social Media Fandoms – Platforms like Instagram, X (Twitter), and Facebook have thriving fan groups that hype every release.
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Dubbing & Subtitles – Localization into Hindi and regional languages is pulling in audiences who previously ignored anime due to language barriers.
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Theater Experience – Indian audiences now see anime as worth watching in cinemas, thanks to successful precedents like Mugen Train.
Industry Reactions
Bollywood trade analysts were quick to acknowledge the milestone:
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“Crossing ₹13 crore on Day 1 is unheard of for anime. This proves the market is bigger than anyone imagined,” said film analyst Taran Adarsh.
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Multiplex chains like PVR and INOX confirmed that advance bookings for Infinity Castle rivaled mid-tier Bollywood films.
Meanwhile, anime distributors in India are already eyeing bigger rollouts for upcoming films, including sequels in the Infinity Castle trilogy.
What’s Next for Demon Slayer Fans?
The trilogy format means this is just the beginning. Infinity Castle Part 1 ends on a jaw-dropping cliffhanger, setting the stage for even more intense battles in Part 2.
Speculation suggests that Part 2 could release in mid-to-late 2026, depending on Ufotable’s production schedule. With the massive reception in India, distributors are likely to expand the sequel’s footprint to smaller towns and tier-2 cities, making it an even bigger event.
Final Thoughts
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle has achieved the impossible in India—transforming anime from a passionate niche into a mainstream blockbuster phenomenon. Its ₹13 crore Day 1 collection isn’t just a number, but a testament to how far anime has come in capturing Indian hearts.
From cosplayers in theaters to fans cheering in Hindi-dubbed screenings, the cultural moment is undeniable. If Part 1 is any indication, the remaining films in the trilogy could break records not just for anime, but for foreign films in India as a whole.
For now, one thing is certain: the Infinity Castle is more than a battleground for Demon Slayer’s characters—it’s a milestone in anime’s global journey, with India proudly at the forefront.
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