Balayya’s Revenge on Chiranjeevi: One Big Obstacle

Sankranti has always been the biggest battlefield in Telugu cinema, and 2026 is already shaping up to be a festival season packed with fireworks.

Every year, producers scramble to lock prime slots, but when giants like Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, and Vijay are all aiming for the same window, the stakes hit a whole new level.

As of now, two heavyweights have locked their spots. First up is the Chiranjeevi–Anil Ravipudi project, which was among the earliest to announce a Sankranti 2026 release. Joining him is Vijay’s Jana Nayagan, now officially confirmed for the festive weekend.

The biggest new twist comes from the Akhanda 2 camp. Titled Akhanda 2: Thandavam, Balakrishna’s sequel was originally slated for a Dussehra 2025 release. But with shooting delays and the need for heavy post-production work, insiders strongly hint that the film might shift to Sankranti.

Though an official announcement is pending, all signs suggest Balayya is gearing up for yet another Sankranti showdown—a season where he’s traditionally unbeatable.

If this lineup holds, Sankranti 2026 could repeat the epic clash of 2023, when Waltair Veerayya, Veera Simha Reddy, and Vaarasudu clashed at the box office.

Back then, both Telugu biggies struck gold, with Chiranjeevi’s film edging out Balakrishna’s in collections. Vijay’s Vaarasudu had a mediocre run in Telugu.

Whether Balakrishna will avenge the 2023 defeat against Chiranjeevi remains to be seen. However, it’s not going to be easy, as Anil Ravipudi’s track record on Sankranti is unbeatable.

Let’s hope all three films run riot at the Sankranti box office and deliver huge profits to all concerned.