Bollywood veteran Sanjay Dutt continues to enjoy strong popularity in South Indian cinema, even as his latest Kannada film, KD The Devil, struggles at the box office.

Although the film reportedly failed to recover its production cost, it has still managed to achieve a surprising milestone by becoming the highest-grossing Kannada film of 2026 so far.

A Record Amidst a Box Office Disappointment

According to reports, KD The Devil collected approximately ₹19.41 crore during its theatrical run. While this figure falls far short of its reported ₹100 crore budget, it remains enough to secure the top spot among Kannada releases this year.

The film generated significant pre-release buzz thanks to its star-studded cast and Sanjay Dutt's appearance in a powerful antagonist role. However, audience response after release was weaker than expected, and the film failed to sustain momentum at the box office.

Why the Film Struggled

Industry observers point to several factors behind the film's underperformance:

• High expectations created before release
• Mixed audience reactions
• Competition from other releases
• Controversies surrounding promotional content and songs

Despite these challenges, KD The Devil has managed to outperform other Kannada releases in terms of total collections this year.

Top-Grossing Kannada Films of 2026 So Far

Based on reported box-office figures, the leading Kannada films of 2026 include:

1. KD The Devil – ₹19.41 crore
2. Love Mocktail 3 – ₹14.6 crore
3. Landlord – ₹13.39 crore
4. Second Case Sitaram – ₹10.45 crore
5. Rakt Kashmira – ₹8.35 crore
6. Hayagriva – ₹7.22 crore
7. Theerthrupa Thandiyavarige – ₹5.32 crore
8. Cult – ₹4.3 crore
9. Amrutanjaya – ₹2.48 crore
10. Rakkaspuradhol – ₹2.24 crore

Among these releases, Love Mocktail 3 is reportedly one of the few films to achieve clear commercial success.

A Tough Year for Kannada Cinema

The Kannada film industry has faced a challenging 2026 so far, with several major releases failing to meet expectations. This contrasts sharply with 2025, when films such as Kantara Chapter 1 reportedly achieved massive box-office success and brought national attention to the industry.

With several months still remaining in the year, filmmakers and exhibitors will be hoping for stronger releases in the second half of 2026 to boost the industry's fortunes.

Sanjay Dutt's Growing South Indian Presence

Even though KD The Devil did not become the blockbuster many expected, Sanjay Dutt's popularity in South Indian cinema remains strong. The actor continues to receive significant roles across multiple industries, reinforcing his status as one of the most recognizable stars working across Indian cinema today.

For now, KD The Devil holds an unusual distinction: a box-office flop that still sits at the top of the Kannada industry's annual earnings chart.