Balakrishna and Boyapati's hyper sequel Akhanda 2 was set for paid premieres across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana at 9 p.m. tonight, but there is now an official update that the premieres have been cancelled.
The producer, 14 Reels Plus, informed the media:
#Akhanda2 premieres scheduled for today are canceled due to technical issues. We tried our best, but a few things are beyond our control. Sorry for the inconvenience."
Earlier in the day, reports stated that the Madras High Court issued a stay on the release of Akhanda 2 in all formats, including theaters, online platforms, satellite, and OTT. Eros International Media Ltd moved the court seeking to block the release, claiming the producers owed them money. The court ruled in favor of Eros and directed the makers to clear the dues before releasing the film.
Telangana bookings have still not opened, which adds more confusion around a smooth Friday release.
North America premieres are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. EST, which is 12 a.m. IST. It remains unclear whether those shows will be affected.