Source koimoi
1 Day To Go: The highly-anticipated sequel to the blockbuster Akhanda, starring Nandamuri Balakrishna, is facing an unexpectedly sluggish start in its Day 1 advance ticket sales, selling a stunning 86.2% fewer tickets than the actor’s previous big opener, Veera Simha Reddy.
With just hours remaining before its grand theatrical release on December 5th, the industry is closely watching to see if a late surge, particularly from the crucial Telangana market, can rescue the film’s opening day projections.
Underwhelming Pre-Sales Signal Trouble
The sequel, which was expected to be a surefire hit and potentially Balakrishna’s first ₹50 crore net opener, has shown an underwhelming trend in pre-sales that fails to match the scale and hype surrounding the Boyapati Srinu directorial.
As of late afternoon on the day before release, Akhanda 2 had sold approximately 1.16 lakh tickets (excluding blocked seats) across the country through 3,191 shows, translating to a gross collection of around ₹2.63 crore at the Indian box office.
When compared to the 8.41 lakh tickets sold in pre-sales for Veera Simha Reddy, the current number for Akhanda 2 is lagging significantly, representing a massive decline of over 86%.
Akhanda 2 (Day 1 Advance Tickets): ~1.16 Lakh
Veera Simha Reddy (Day 1 Advance Tickets): ~8.41 Lakh
Difference: 86.2% fewer tickets
Including blocked seats and premiere pre-sales (which reportedly total ₹3.26 crore), the film’s total advance gross stands at around ₹6.03 crore. While this is on track to surpass Bhagavanth Kesari’s pre-sales, the benchmark set by Veera Simha Reddy (₹16.14 crore gross) appears definitively out of reach.
⚡ The Telangana Factor: A Last-Minute Game Changer?
The most critical factor cited for the underwhelming opening-day figures is the slow pace of bookings, particularly the initial absence of strong numbers from the Telangana/Nizam region.
Nandamuri Balakrishna commands a formidable fan base in Telangana, and trade analysts are pinning their hopes on a massive, last-minute mobilization in this territory.
“Balayya enjoys a strong fan base in Telangana, and with opening-day pre-sales still on, the film is expected to witness a big surge in the final hours,” stated a trade analyst. “The sudden cancellation of India-wide premiere shows due to technical issues may have also impacted momentum, but the Telangana market still holds the power to pull off a respectable opening collection.”
Despite the disappointing pre-sales so far, the massive pre-release business—with theatrical rights valued at over ₹120 crore worldwide—suggests immense faith in the film’s mass appeal and the star-director combo. However, the slow ticket sales put pressure on the film to secure unanimously positive word-of-mouth to achieve its ambitious break-even target.
What Happens Next? The box office now awaits the final advance booking numbers from Telangana and the initial audience response to the early morning shows on Friday, which will ultimately determine if Akhanda 2 can overcome its slow start.
