Nandamuri Balakrishna's fans were gearing up for a mega celebration this Friday, December 5, 2025, for the theatrical release of Akhanda 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2021 blockbuster. Instead, they were hit with a huge disappointment for one of the most shocking last-minute postponements in recent years. The film, which has already earned rave reviews from early viewers and critics, was abruptly pulled hours before its scheduled premiere, leaving fans reeling, stunned, and even in many cases, stranded.
The last few hours have been nothing short of a pandemonium in Tamil cinema. With Balakrishna's film all set for a theatrical release today, several fans literally walked the extra mile to catch the first-day-first-show. In Hyderabad, a group of 11 Balakrishna fans reportedly travelled a staggering 475 km after boarding a 5 a.m. bus, just to experience the much-awaited movie in PCX format. However, by the time they reached the Prasads Multiplex, the premiere had been cancelled.
A staff member working at the multiplex shared the story on social media, calling the situation 'heartbreaking' as the group of friends was hopeful that Akhanda 2 could still be released on the scheduled date. However, the film was postponed.
A similar situation has been seen beyond the borders. Balakrishna fans in the U.S. also gathered outside theatres, waiting for hours despite harsh weather in hopes of an update. The excitement was so high that many fans had specially taken time off work or even travelled long distances. After the film's last-minute postponement, disappointed fans flooded X (formerly Twitter), lashing out at producers.
One X user shared a photograph from a U.S. multiplex, showing a number of fans standing outside the auditorium doors waiting for the film's premiere. Calling the situation "deeply upsetting", the post urged production teams to stop last-minute announcements and said:
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"Despite extreme conditions, fans who travelled long distances to theatres are disappointed to learn that #Akhanda2 has been postponed. Repeated content delays and last-minute announcements have deeply upset USA fans. Production teams should ensure these mistakes are avoided in the future."
And the frustration does not end there: one die-hard fan was so excited for the release that he/she allegedly spent a whopping Rs. 2 lakh to book Akhanda 2's first ticket in Germany. Such instances have left fans reeling and questioning the makers about what to do about these losses.
The makers had initially cited "unavoidable circumstances" regarding Akhanda 2's postponement. However, Eros International has now revealed that the real reason came from the Madras High Court. The court reportedly granted an injunction that prevents the film from being released in any form. The reason behind this is a long-standing financial dispute linked to the film's production house, 14 Reels Plus.
According to Eros International's claims, the production house reportedly owes the Madras High Court around Rs. 28 crore from an arbitral award related to older films like Aagadu and 1 Nenokkadine. They were allegedly planning to release Akhanda 2 through a related LLP to avoid compliance with the payment orders. As a result, a Division bench agreed to temporarily hold the release, effectively freezing it until further orders.
The expectations surrounding Akhanda 2 are now at a peak due to the massive success of the 2021 film and the recent postponement. Directed by Boyapati Sreenu, the 2021 film was made on a budget of approximately Rs. 50 crore grossed Rs. 103.3 crore in India. But for now, Akhanda 2 is locked until the financial dispute is resolved, either by payment or further court direction. The film, starring Balakrishna, Samyuktha, Aadhi Pinisetty, and Harshaali Malhotra, is fully ready, promoted, and primed for release. But legally, it cannot move even an inch.
Akhanda 2’s new release date remains unknown. What are your thoughts on this?
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