It is always exciting for Nandamuri Balakrishna to compete in the Sankranti race with his films. In the past, a total of 13 of his movies were released during the Sankranti season. Recently, Veera Simha Reddy in 2023 and Daaku Maharaj in 2025 were released during this period. The film Akhanda 2: Tandavam, which was supposed to hit theatres worldwide on December 5, has been unexpectedly postponed. Directed by Boyapati Sreenu and starring Balakrishna, this film has already generated huge expectations. With the film not releasing as planned, discussions have now begun about the new release date. Various dates are being circulated on social media. In this context, an update seen on BookMyShow has now become a hot topic.
What is that update? BookMyShow shows that Akhanda 2 is scheduled for release in 2026. With this, discussions have begun on whether this movie, too, will enter the Sankranti race — a season Balakrishna loves the most. The 2026 Sankranti season is already packed with intense competition at the box office. If Balakrishna’s Akhanda 2 also joins the Sankranti lineup, the competition is expected to reach its peak. Pan-India star Prabhas’ movie Raja Saab has already locked the January 9 release date. Along with that, Megastar Chiranjeevi’s Mann Shankara Vara Prasad Garu is also slated for a Sankranti release. On the other hand, Naveen Polishetty and Meenakshi Chaudhary starrer Anaganaga Oka Raju, along with Ravi Teja’s Bhartha Mahashayulaku Vignapthi, are also in the Sankranti race. With this, four Telugu films are already competing for the festive box office.
If Balakrishna’s Akhanda 2: Tandavam also joins the list, the competition will become even more intense, and naturally, theatre availability issues may arise. Meanwhile, the producer of Akhanda 2 recently announced that they will soon come before audiences with a blockbuster date. With this, discussions have intensified on whether the film will indeed be released for next year’s Sankranti as indicated by BookMyShow. Until the film’s unit officially announces the release date, these discussions are likely to continue. It is known that Akhanda 2’s last-minute postponement occurred due to financial transaction issues between the production houses 14 Reels Entertainment and Eros International.