Akhanda 2 Collections Dip: Is Boyapati Sreenu to Be Blamed?

Collections for Balakrishna’s Akhanda 2 appear to be sliding as the film witnessed a noticeable dip on Sunday. The film reportedly managed just over ₹14 crore net in the two Telugu states on the day, even as footfalls dropped sharply. While the action entertainer enjoyed a strong opening weekend of around ₹60 crore, trade circles say it still has a long way to go and must pass the crucial Monday test.

Despite Balakrishna breathing life into the semi-divine role, director Boyapati Sreenu seems to have disappointed audiences with an unrealistic story and weak screenplay. “Balakrishna tried his best to salvage the poorly etched narrative and ensured solid openings. However, even sections of Nandamuri fans were disappointed with the lacklustre story,” says a distributor, adding that most of the blame lies with the director.

According to trade sources, the unscientific storytelling and exaggerated action sequences drew criticism from various quarters. The film has also performed poorly outside the Telugu states, with dismal collections in North India, Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, where it reportedly managed to collect only around ₹80 lakh — a highly disappointing figure for a film mounted on such a massive scale.

Balakrishna and the producers reportedly placed complete trust in Boyapati Sreenu, who had earlier delivered three hits with the actor. With an investment of nearly ₹150 crore, expectations were sky-high. However, the director’s overconfidence and apparent lack of understanding of new-generation audience tastes seem to have backfired. What was expected to be a high-voltage mass entertainer has instead turned into a routine masala flick lacking rhythm, logic, and freshness, trade observers conclude.