The much-anticipated sequel, 'Akhanda 2: Thaandavam', starring Nandamuri Balakrishna, is witnessing a steep decline in its box office earnings as it progresses into its third week of release. The film, which hit theatres on December 12, 2025, after a last-minute delay, is now struggling to pull audiences to the ticket windows, with daily collections falling sharply.
Steep Decline in Daily Collections
According to the latest trade estimates, the film managed to earn only around Rs 24 lakh on its 19th day, which was Wednesday. This marks a continued downward trend from the previous days. The movie had collected Rs 35 lakh on Monday, which then dipped to Rs 30 lakh on Tuesday. This is a far cry from its performance in the initial days, where it added Rs 70 lakh and Rs 90 lakh on its 16th and 17th days, respectively.
The film's total domestic collection now stands at an estimated Rs 92.91 crore. This figure highlights a dramatic slowdown after a strong opening. In its first week, 'Akhanda 2' had amassed an impressive over Rs 76.75 crore, as reported by trade analyst Sacnilk. However, the momentum could not be sustained, with the second week's collections dropping to an estimated Rs 12.3 crore.
Theatrical Occupancy Reflects Waning Interest
The dip in box office revenue is mirrored in the film's theatrical occupancy rates. On Wednesday, the overall Telugu occupancy for 'Akhanda 2' was recorded at 15.29%. The day saw fluctuating interest: morning shows began with 15.11% occupancy, which saw a slight increase to 17.29% in the afternoon. However, interest waned during the evening shows, dropping to 11.85%, before a minor recovery to 16.92% for the night screenings.
This pattern of occupancy suggests that while a core audience is still watching the film, primarily during afternoon and night shows, the mass appeal needed to drive blockbuster numbers has significantly diminished in its third week.
About the Film and Its Troubled Release
'Akhanda 2: Thaandavam' is the sequel to the 2021 Telugu blockbuster 'Akhanda'. Directed by Boyapati Srinu, the film is a high-octane fantasy action thriller featuring Nandamuri Balakrishna in a powerful lead role. The ensemble cast includes Samyuktha Menon, Aadhi Pinisetty, Harshaali Malhotra, Kabir Duhan Singh, and Saswata Chatterjee.
The film's journey to the screens was not smooth. It was initially scheduled for a grand release on December 5, 2025. However, unforeseen legal complications forced a last-minute postponement, pushing the release date by a week to December 12, 2025. While the film opened to considerable hype and initial turnout, it appears to be facing challenges in maintaining its grip on the box office as newer content potentially draws audience attention away.
The current box office trajectory indicates that 'Akhanda 2' is unlikely to reach the coveted 100-crore mark in the domestic market at its present pace. Industry observers are now keenly watching to see if the film stabilizes or continues its decline in the coming days.
