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Nandamuri Balakrishna’s Akhanda 2 was gearing up for a grand theatrical release on Friday, December 5. The team had spent weeks touring the Telugu states, building hype through back-to-back promotions.

Everything seemed firmly in place as preview shows were minutes away from rolling out when the makers suddenly announced that the release had been pushed at the last moment for the Balakrishna movie.

Although the official statement blamed “technical issues beyond our control,” industry chatter suggests a different story. A long-running legal dispute between the film’s production banner, 14 Reels Entertainment, and Eros is believed to be the actual cause behind the unexpected delay.

© 14 Reels Plus

A day before Akhanda 2 was scheduled to hit theatres, Eros International Media Limited issued a statement revealing that the Madras High Court had ordered a stay on the film’s release. According to the press note, Eros had approached the court in connection with an old arbitral award against 14 Reels Entertainment, under which Eros is owed nearly ₹28 crore.

Seeking urgent intervention to secure the enforcement of that award, Eros argued that 14 Reels’ attempt to release Akhanda 2 amounted to “an indirect attempt to flout the arbitral award and avoid compliance with legally determined financial obligations.”

After reviewing the matter, a Division Bench of Justice S.M. Subramaniam and Justice C. Kumarappan issued an order restraining the release, distribution, or any form of commercial exploitation of Akhanda 2 until further directions from the court.

© 14 Reels Plus

On Thursday, the makers of Akhanda 2 wrote, “With a heavy heart, we regret to inform you that #Akhanda2 will not be releasing as scheduled due to unavoidable circumstances. This is a painful moment for us, and we truly understand the disappointment it brings to every fan and movie lover awaiting the film. We are working tirelessly to resolve the matter at the earliest. Our sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused. Your support means the world to us. We promise to share a positive update very soon.”

With a heavy heart, we regret to inform you that #Akhanda2 will not be releasing as scheduled due to unavoidable circumstances.

This is a painful moment for us, and we truly understand the disappointment it brings to every fan and movie lover awaiting the film.

We are working…

— 14 Reels Plus (@14ReelsPlus) December 4, 2025

Akhanda 2: Thaandavam serves as the follow-up to the 2021 blockbuster Akhanda, once again helmed by director Boyapati Srinu. The sequel features Nandamuri Balakrishna reprising his iconic role, with Samyuktha, Aadhi Pinishetty, and Harshaali Malhotra joining the cast in pivotal parts.