Veteran actor and politician Nandamuri Balakrishna, recently conferred with the prestigious Padma Bhushan by the Government of India, is showing no signs of slowing down. While celebrating the honour with his supporters in Hindupur, Balakrishna opened up about his cinematic journey, stating, “Everyone is calling this my second innings after four back-to-back hits, but the real second innings will begin with Akhanda 2. It’s going to be beyond everyone’s expectations.”

After a brief lull in his career before the pandemic, Balakrishna made a formidable comeback with Akhanda, his third successful collaboration with director Boyapati Sreenu. The momentum continued with consecutive hits like Veera Simha Reddy (dir. Gopichand Malineni), Bhagavanth Kesari (dir. Anil Ravipudi), and Daaku Maharaj (dir. Bobby Kolli). These films not only reaffirmed his box office appeal but also connected him with a younger audience. His popular talk show Unstoppable further elevated his public persona, highlighting his charm and versatility well into his 60s.

With Akhanda 2, Balakrishna is setting his sights on the pan-India market. The highly anticipated sequel, being dubbed in multiple languages, is scheduled for a grand release on September 25, coinciding with the Dussehra festival. A first-look teaser is set to drop on June 10, to coincide with Balakrishna’s birthday, building anticipation among fans nationwide.

Adding to the excitement is the confirmation of another collaboration with Gopichand Malineni. The director has already teased that the upcoming project will surpass the scale and impact of Veera Simha Reddy.

Meanwhile, industry buzz points to a new and intriguing collaboration in the pipeline. Balakrishna is reportedly in advanced talks with acclaimed Malayalam filmmaker Haneef Adeni, known for the blockbuster action drama Marco. If finalized, the duo is expected to team up for a high-octane cop drama, with Balakrishna playing a fierce, intense role tailor-made for his larger-than-life screen presence.

Notably, the film might be produced by Dil Raju, who has already announced a project with Adeni, potentially marking his first-ever collaboration with Balakrishna. Given the Malayalam industry’s reputation for swift, high-quality filmmaking, this venture is expected to move into production soon after the release of Akhanda 2.

With a powerful lineup that includes Akhanda 2, the Haneef Adeni actioner, and a high-scale project with Gopichand Malineni, Balakrishna’s so-called “second innings” is rapidly evolving into one of the most successful chapters of his illustrious career.