Banking on the cult following that Akhanda gained in North India after its OTT debut on Hotstar, the makers believed the sequel would receive similar acceptance in the Hindi belt.
While the first film was released only in Telugu in theatres, its Hindi-dubbed version clocked massive impressions on OTT, creating the perception that Akhanda had evolved into a recognizable brand beyond the South.
Riding on this belief, director Boyapati Srinu designed Akhanda 2 with a clear focus on North Indian audiences.
Elements of Sanatana Dharma and overt patriotism were deliberately amplified, with sequences such as Lord Shiva’s Tandavam, the appearance of Lord Hanuman, and multiple devotional references clearly aimed at expanding the film’s Hindi appeal.
For the first time, Nandamuri Balakrishna also actively promoted the Hindi version, giving interviews to a few Hindi YouTube channels.
Although these interactions later turned into meme material online, the intent to connect with the North Indian market was evident from both the actor and the director.
However, the strategy failed to deliver. With Akhanda 2 underperforming even in Telugu and posting a disappointing $790K opening weekend in the crucial North American market, expectations from the Hindi version quickly faded.
The Hindi-dubbed release proved to be a complete washout. In its first three days, the Hindi version reportedly collected just ₹35 lakh, an amount that does not even cover the expenses of the film’s Mumbai press meet.
While the film’s lacklustre performance in Tamil and other languages was somewhat expected, the disastrous response in Hindi came as a major shock to both Boyapati Srinu and Nandamuri Balakrishna.
