Recent developments around sequels in Telugu cinema, especially starring Nandamuri heroes, have once again highlighted how unpredictable audience response can be. The latest example is Akhanda: Thaandavam 2, which failed to create the expected magic at the box office. The film could not live up to the hype generated by the makers and ended up being a damp squib. Fans of Nandamuri Balakrishna, who were confident that Akhanda 2 would be a Rs. 300-crore grosser are now closely tracking collections and hoping the film at least reaches the breakeven mark, which looks now out of reach.
With average reports coming in for Avatar Fire and Ash, fans are still hoping for a weekend pickup. However, the Dhurandhar wave is so strong in Nizam and Telangana that Akhanda 2 stands no chance.
2025 has been a disastrous year for Nandamuri stars and their fans, with only Daaku Maharaaj’s average success offering some consolation. For Nandamuri heroes, the so-called number two or sequel factor has not been working. For Jr NTR, War 2 turned into a nightmare experience and failed to even collect decent box office numbers. Kalyan Ram announced Bimbisara 2 more than a year ago, but the project has not materialized even after a director change. Earlier, he also considered Devil 2 but dropped the idea after the first film’s flop result and the controversies surrounding it. Looking at these back-to-back blows, the situation feels like a lingering negative sentiment attached to sequels.
There is also no clarity about Devara 2. The team released a poster on NTR’s birthday, hinting at a sequel, but no concrete updates followed. Jr NTR remains busy with other commitments, while director Koratala Siva has stayed away from the media. The chances of Devara 2 happening looks bleak as of now.
Even Balakrishna’s long cherished dream of a sequel to Aditya 369 continues to face delays. At one point, reports suggested Krish would direct it, but the latest reports suggests that Balakrishna himself will direct the film. With so many shelved or struggling sequels, the industry is watching closely to see which film will finally break this number two curse for Nandamuri heroes.
