Despite mixed word of mouth, Akhanda 2 has performed better than expected on its second day. According to trade pundits, the film collected around Rs. 17 crore gross in India on Day 2, taking its two-day Indian total to about Rs. 50 crores gross. Overseas, it earned roughly USD 1.05 million, which is about Rs. 9.5 crore, pushing the worldwide total close to Rs. 60 crores.
This hold has surprised trade circles. Films of this genre usually see a sharp drop after the opening day, especially when reviews are mixed. However, Akhanda 2 dropped only around 50 percent on Day 2. While that may sound high, it is fairly normal for Telugu big star films, which are heavily frontloaded toward Day 1.
The film is doing well across Telugu states, with Nizam emerging as the strongest market. This is unusual for a Balakrishna film. Traditionally, his movies perform better in the Ceded regions, but this time the strong brand value of Akhanda is helping in Nizam as well.
That said, the journey ahead is challenging. Trade experts say the film needs to reach around Rs. 200 crore worldwide gross worldwide to break even. Sunday collections will be crucial, followed by a strong hold on Monday. The second weekend will also matter a lot, but competition from Avatar 3 and the explosive run of Dhurandhar could make things tough for Akhanda 2.
