Akhanda 2 Box Office Rages: Beats Devil 4X, Crosses ₹60 Crore Despite Negative Reviews

On Sunday alone, 'Akhanda 2' is estimated to have collected nearly four times the earnings of 'The Devil,' cementing its status as the clear audience favourite of the weekend.

Fan Frenzy Over Critical Flak

'Akhanda 2' has become a classic example of star power and franchise loyalty completely overriding critical opinion.

• Critical Response: Reviewers were quick to point out the film's "predictable story," "senseless logic," and an overdose of action. Multiple major publications gave the film average to low ratings, suggesting it was strictly for the star's die-hard fanbase.
• Audience Verdict: The box office results, however, tell a different story. The film shattered opening records for Balakrishna, collecting a whopping ₹22.5 Crore on its first day (Friday) alone, which included strong revenue from paid premieres. The first-weekend gross collection is already approaching the ₹100 Crore mark worldwide.
• The Power of Mass Appeal: Trade analysts credit the film's success to the colossal fan following of Nandamuri Balakrishna, the cult status of the original Akhanda, and the high-octane action sequences orchestrated by director Boyapati Sreenu. Occupancy rates remained high through the weekend, especially in the afternoon and evening shows, showing that the negative reviews failed to deter the masses.

Akhanda 2's incredible haul against the backdrop of negative reviews underscores a crucial trend in mass-market cinema: for certain star-director combinations, commercial success is less dependent on critical acclaim and more on the ability to deliver the expected "mass masala" entertainment to their loyal audience base.