The much-anticipated sequel Akhanda 2, starring Nandamuri Balakrishna, has delivered a mixed performance at the box office. Released amid tremendous buzz and predictions of a blockbuster, the film has struggled to live up to the pre-release excitement and is moving towards a disappointing commercial outcome. However, it has managed to cross a significant domestic milestone and secure a notable position in the year's rankings.
Akhanda 2 Box Office Performance: The Numbers Tell the Story
On its fifth day in theatres, which was its first Tuesday, Akhanda 2 witnessed a sharp decline in earnings. The film collected an estimated ₹4.35 crore net in India. This marked a drop of nearly 17 per cent from its Monday collection of ₹5.25 crore, a steeper fall than the typical 10 per cent weekday dip. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, this has pushed the film's total India net collection to ₹70.7 crore. The gross earnings from the Indian market stand at approximately ₹83.42 crore.
Globally, the total box office haul for Akhanda 2 after five days is estimated to be between ₹89.35 crore and ₹90 crore. The primary driver of these figures remains the Telugu version, which has contributed over ₹70 crore to the India net total. Despite the underwhelming trend, the film has achieved a notable feat by surpassing the lifetime collection of Naga Chaitanya's Thandel, thereby securing the spot as the eighth highest-grossing Telugu film of 2025 so far.
Audience Response and Show Details
The audience occupancy on day five reflected the film's cooling momentum. The overall Telugu occupancy was recorded at 20.70 per cent. The turnout showed a gradual improvement through the day, beginning at a modest 15.09 per cent for morning shows and climbing to 20.50 per cent in the afternoon. The evening and night screenings fared better, with occupancies of 23.45 per cent and 23.76 per cent respectively.
In the Tamil market, the film registered an occupancy of 14.23 per cent on the same day. Chennai led with the highest number of screenings at 193 shows, followed by Coimbatore with 73 shows and Madurai with 54 shows.
The Film's Plot and Future on OTT
Akhanda 2 is a direct sequel to the 2021 hit and features Balakrishna reprising his role as Akhanda, a divine-powered warrior battling evil forces. The sequel raises the stakes with the introduction of a formidable new antagonist endowed with supernatural abilities, played by Aadhi Pinisetty. The ensemble cast also includes Samyuktha Menon, Harshaali Malhotra, Kabir Duhan Singh, and Saswata Chatterjee in key roles. The film's trailer promised a grand mythological clash filled with fantasy and high-octane action.
For those waiting to watch it from home, reports indicate that the digital streaming rights for Akhanda 2 have been acquired by Netflix. The film is expected to premiere on the OTT platform after its theatrical run concludes.
In summary, while Akhanda 2 has carved a place for itself among the year's top earners in Tollywood and crossed the ₹70 crore mark domestically, its trajectory suggests it has fallen short of the sky-high expectations set by its pre-release buzz. The coming days will be crucial in determining its final standing at the box office.
