Nandamuri Balakrishna's highly anticipated film, Akhanda 2: Thaandavam, has struggled significantly at the box office, recovering only 46.12% of its massive ₹200 crore budget after 20 days in theaters. The Telugu fantasy action drama, released on December 12, 2025, has been declared a major failure by trade analysts.
Akhanda 2 Fails to Meet High Expectations
The film, a sequel to the successful 2021 blockbuster Akhanda, opened with considerable expectations. However, it has failed to replicate its predecessor's success. By its 20th day, Wednesday, December 31, 2025, Akhanda 2 earned an estimated ₹0.30 crore (30 lakh) in India. This daily collection marks a steady but low pace, maintaining similar figures to the previous day despite New Year festivities.[koimoi]
Overall, the film has accumulated a net collection of ₹92.25 crore across India by the end of its 20-day run. Its gross collection in India stands at ₹108.85 crore. Includingoverseas contributions, the worldwide total is approximately ₹120.85 crore. These figures fall far short of the ₹200 crore required to break even and secure a safe verdict, leaving a deficit of over 50%.[koimoi+3]
Production Costs and Star Power
Akhanda 2: Thaandavam, directed by Boyapati Sreenu, stars Nandamuri Balakrishna in the lead role, with Samyuktha Menon, Aadhi Pinisetty, and Harshaali Malhotra in key supporting parts. The film was reportedly made on a budget of ₹200 crore, making it one of the most expensive projects in Balakrishna's career. This substantial budget covered extensive production expenses, including high remuneration for the stars and director, advanced visual effects, and shooting in diverse locations like the Himalayas and during the Maha Kumbh Mela.[en+4]
Reports suggest that Nandamuri Balakrishna charged around ₹75 crore for his role, while director Boyapati Sreenu's fee was estimated between ₹35 crore and ₹40 crore. These high fees represent a significant portion of the film's overall cost, placing immense pressure on its box office performance. A distributor from the Andhra Pradesh–Telangana circuit noted that "business expectations were set extremely high due to the budget."[bollywoodshaadis+2]
Declining Collections and Industry Challenges
The film's box office journey saw an impressive first week, collecting over ₹76.75 crore. However, collections sharply declined in the subsequent weeks, with the second week adding only ₹12.3 crore. Daily earnings continued toslip, indicating a loss of momentum. The film is now struggling to even reach the ₹95 crore net mark and is expected to conclude its theatrical run soon.[koimoi+3]
The underperformance of Akhanda 2 highlights broader challenges facing the Telugu film industry in 2025. Several big-budget films have struggled to recover costs, leading to significant financial losses for producers and distributors. Factors such as soaring ticket prices, increased competition, content fatigue, and the rapid shift to over-the-top (OTT) platforms are contributing to declining theater footfalls.[koimoi+1]
Comparison to First Akhanda and Future Outlook
The first Akhanda, released in 2021, was a major success, grossing over ₹150 crore worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing film in Balakrishna's career at the time. This set a high bar for the sequel, which Akhanda 2 has clearly failed to reach. The substantial difference in performance underscores the unpredictable nature of the film industry, where even established franchises and popular stars face financial hurdles with escalating budgets.[en+1]
Despite the current struggles, a third installment titled "Jai Akhanda" is reportedly already in the works, suggesting the makers intend to continue the franchise. Akhanda 2 is also slated for anOTT release on Netflix, reportedly on January 9, 2026, which may offer an additional revenue stream. However, industry experts suggest that OTT revenues alone are often insufficient to bridge significant theatrical losses for high-budget productions. The film's financial outcome serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with mounting production costs in big-ticket Telugu cinema.[en+3]
