Nandamuri Balakrishna and Boyapati Srinu’s much-hyped sequel Akhanda 2 ran into an unexpected crisis. Shockingly, a film of Balakrishna’s stature was postponed, not just delayed, just a few hours before its scheduled release.
The reason is straightforward: a legal dispute. The producers, 14 Reels, have been in a long-running legal battle with Eros dating back to Mahesh Babu’s Dookudu financial dispute. Despite multiple court proceedings, they never managed to gain the upper hand. What is truly surprising is that, given the history, the producers failed to anticipate that Eros could block Akhanda 2’s release to pressure them for payment.
According to public legal documents, Eros is demanding ₹28 crores plus 14% interest. Yet 14 Reels, along with producers Ram Achanta and Gopi Achanta, grossly underestimated Eros and proceeded with the release. Even a promotional event in Mumbai highlighted how lightly they treated the longstanding legal dispute, which has been ongoing for almost a decade.
At present, there is a possibility that both parties could reach a settlement today. Only if Eros legally vacates the stay can financial clearance for Akhanda 2 be obtained. Whether the producers will push for a release this weekend or opt for a December 19 or 25 release remains uncertain. This weekend release seems unlikely, especially as Netflix will also need to coordinate the new date.
