The much-anticipated sequel, Akhanda 2: Thaandavam, has officially been postponed.
While the makers initially attributed the delay to extended post-production work — particularly visual effects and background score — there’s also another crucial factor at play: the OTT deal.
The first part of 'Akhanda' turned out to be a massive theatrical success and later performed strongly on Disney+ Hotstar.
Banking on that, the team entered talks with JioCinema (after its takeover of Hotstar). However, the platform reportedly showed little interest in paying steep prices for Telugu big-ticket films.
Meanwhile, global players like Netflix and Prime Video have adopted a cautious approach after overspending in the past, making them reluctant to shell out huge amounts for regional blockbusters.
With no lucrative OTT agreement in place yet, the makers of Akhanda 2 are holding back the release until they strike a deal that matches expectations.
This is the fourth film in the super hit combination of Nandamuri Balakrishna and Boyapati Sreenu. The producers lavishly spent money on this due to the hype.
But recovering money is more important. For this, securing a lucrative OTT deal is a must.
