Post-Akhanda 2 reality check: what’s next for Boyapati Srinu?

Director Boyapati Srinu has always had a mixed success rate in his career. While he enjoyed a remarkable run delivering massive blockbusters with Nandamuri Balakrishna, that winning streak appears to have come to a halt now.

With other stars, Boyapati’s track record has been far from consistent. He has scored hits with actors like Venkatesh, Ravi Teja, and Allu Arjun, but his collaborations with NTR, Ram Charan, and Ram ended in box-office disappointments. While it may still be early to officially declare the final verdict on “Akhanda 2”, trade circles believe the film is likely to incur losses for distributors and may not be counted as a success.

This brings up the obvious question: what’s next for Boyapati Srinu?

At present, top-tier stars such as Mahesh Babu, Ram Charan, Allu Arjun, NTR, and Prabhas are unlikely options. Among senior heroes, Megastar Chiranjeevi remains a possibility, but he is already committed to two projects: one with director Bobby and another with Srikanth Odela.

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Boyapati could explore collaborations with mid-range stars like Nani or Vijay Deverakonda. However, it remains to be seen whether they would be willing to take the risk of headlining the kind of ultra-mass, high-decibel films Boyapati is known for. Budget is another major concern. Boyapati reportedly demanded Rs 35 crore for “Akhanda 2” and eventually settled for Rs 29 crore. Combining such remuneration with the fees of stars like Nani or Vijay Deverakonda would significantly strain budgets, especially at a time when the OTT market has shrunk considerably. Nani has better market compared to Vijay Deverakonda as far as OTT and recent success rate. So, Nani and Boyapati can be viable combination.

There is also buzz that if he fails to secure an immediate Telugu project, Boyapati might approach Tamil stars such as Suriya.

For now, all eyes are on Boyapati Srinu to see which direction he chooses and who will step forward as the hero of his next film.