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Balakrishna’s much-awaited Akhanda 2 has finally hit theatres, but the reception has been mixed, leaning more toward the negative side. Before the release, a strong rumour went viral claiming that legendary actor Sr. NTR would make a special appearance as Lord Shiva. This speculation created tremendous excitement among Nandamuri fans.

However, audiences were left disappointed when no such cameo appeared in the film. Instead, the Shiva sequence featured a Hindi television actor known for playing the deity on TV, which came as an unexpected choice.

When questioned about how this rumour began and why the makers opted for this casting, industry insiders revealed that the core decision-making team believed Sr. NTR’s image would resonate primarily with Telugu audiences, not with viewers across the country. Since Akhanda 2 was envisioned as a pan-India project, they reportedly felt an actor familiar to North Indian viewers would be more suitable.

Many fans disagree with this reasoning, calling it narrow-minded. They argue that Sr. NTR’s legacy is national, timeless, and deeply rooted in Indian cinema’s mythological portrayal. According to them, his presence—even in a brief cameo—would have created massive hype in the Telugu states and beyond. For divine roles, fans strongly feel that NTR’s impact remains unparalleled.

“Just imagining Sr. NTR appearing as Lord Shiva gives goosebumps. I don’t know why the makers missed such a golden opportunity,” a netizen commented, echoing the sentiment many fans share today.