'Akhanda 2' Budget, Cast Fees Revealed, How Much Did Nandamuri Balakrishna, Boyapati Sreenu Earn?

Tollywood movie, Akhanda 2, is currently leading the search bar. The sequel to director Boyapati Sreenu's Akhanda was highly anticipated and its release was originally scheduled for today, December 5, 2025. However, it has been indefinitely postponed due to a combination of financial and legal issues. The unexpected delay was announced just hours before the scheduled India premieres and has caused a significant stir online, with the fans expressing their disappointment at the last-minute move. Amid the buzz surrounding the movie's release delay, here's a look at its budget and cast salary.

What is the production cost of Akhanda 2?

The production cost of the film, Akhanda 2 is reportedly around Rs. 200 crore (USD 2 billion), according to OTTPlay. This budget makes it the most expensive film of lead actor, Nandamuri Balakrishna's career. The significant budget reflects the filmmakers' intention to give the movie a pan-India appeal, with portions shot in the Himalayas and during the Maha Kumbh Mela. They also used extensive VFX shots, which explains the high budget. Besides the shot scenes, the cast and crew also took home a large share of the project's budget.

How much did Nandamuri Balakrishna, Boyapati Sreenu, and others earn from Akhanda 2?

From the Rs. 200 crore budget, high-cost fees of Akhanda 2's cast and crew can already be estimated. According to OTTPlay, the movie's protagonist, Nandamuri Balakrishna, reportedly charged around Rs. 75 crore to reprise his role in the second instalment of the successful Telugu movie Akhanda. It reportedly marks the actor's highest-ever salary. This fee represents a substantial increase from his previous films and accounts for a significant portion of the film's total budget. The director of the sequel, Boyapati Srinu, also commanded a high fee, just like Nandamuri Balakrishna. Boyapati's remuneration was around Rs. 35 crore to Rs. 40 crore.

According to Asianet News, heroine, Samyuktha Menon was paid around Rs. 2 crores. Bajrangi Bhaijaan fame, Harshaali Malhotra, who plays a key role in the movie, was reportedly paid approximately Rs. 50 lakhs. Actress, Poorna's remuneration is estimated at around Rs. 50 lakhs, same as that of Harshaali's. Aadhi Pinisetty's fee was reportedly around Rs. 1 crore. The music director of the film, S. Thaman reportedly earned between Rs. 15 to Rs. 20 crores.

Why was Akhanda 2 postponed just hours before hitting the theatres?

Akhanda 2 was postponed just hours before its release due to legal and financial issues, specifically a court injunction related to an outstanding debt. The primary reason for the delay was a Madras High Court Injunction. Eros International Media Limited filed an appeal with the Court regarding a long-standing arbitral dispute against the film's production house, 14 Reels Entertainment. Eros reportedly has an arbitral award of approximately Rs. 28 crore (plus interest) outstanding and argued that the release of Akhanda 2 was an attempt to evade this financial obligation.

The Court subsequently ordered a stay on the film's release, distribution, and commercial exploitation until the matter gets resolved. Beyond the legal troubles, the production house also faced general financial difficulties and other last-minute issues, which led to confusion over ticket bookings in the Telugu states and the cancellation of paid premieres in India. Overseas screenings were also affected by delays in clearing necessary digital screening keys (KDMs). The makers cited "unavoidable circumstances" in their statement to fans about the film's postponement and assured them they are working tirelessly to resolve the issue and announce a new release date soon.

What are your thoughts on Akhanda 2's cast fees and its release postponement? Let us know.

Also Read: 'Akhanda 2' Early Review, Netizen Says Nandamuri Balakrishna's Film, 'Biggest Blockbuster Loading'

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