Akhanda 2 Halted Last Minute as 14 Reels–Eros Dispute Explodes
The much-awaited sequel Akhanda 2, starring Nandamuri Balakrishna and directed by Boyapati Srinu, faced a shocker just hours before its scheduled release. In an unprecedented situation for a star of Balakrishna’s stature, the film’s release was abruptly halted—not due to technical issues, but because of a long-standing legal battle.
The core issue traces back to a decade-old financial dispute between the production house 14 Reels and Eros International, originating during Mahesh Babu’s Dookudu. Despite years of litigation, 14 Reels has never managed to secure a clear advantage in court. What has now stunned the industry is how the producers overlooked the possibility that Eros might enforce a legal stay to pressure them for overdue payments.
According to publicly available legal records, Eros is demanding ₹28 crore plus 14% interest, a substantial sum that remains unsettled. Surprisingly, producers Ram Achanta and Gopi Achanta proceeded with the massive promotional campaign—including a grand event in Mumbai—without factoring in the legal risks that had been brewing for nearly ten years.
Now, a possible settlement between both parties is being explored. The film can only move forward after Eros officially withdraws the stay and financial clearance is obtained.
Whether Akhanda 2 will attempt a release this weekend or shift to December 19 or December 25 remains unclear. A release this weekend looks highly unlikely, especially because Netflix must also realign its streaming schedule based on the new date.
The industry is closely watching how quickly the dispute gets resolved—because this unexpected halt has turned Akhanda 2 into one of Tollywood’s most dramatic release-week controversies in recent years.
