Harshaali Malhotra, who became famous as Munni in Salman Khan’s 2015 hit Bajrangi Bhaijaan, has now taken a big step forward in her career. At 17, the former child actor has made her Telugu film debut with Akhanda 2: Thaandavam, which stars Nandamuri Balakrishna in the lead role.
The film is directed by Boyapati Srinu and is a sequel to the 2021 hit Akhanda. In Akhanda 2, Harshaali plays Janani, a smart young scientist working with DRDO. She develops a vaccine to stop a dangerous bioweapon, and her character plays an important role in the story. Balakrishna’s character returns to protect her from major threats.
As per reports, Harshaali was paid around Rs 50 lakh for the film. This role is very different from her earlier image as Munni and shows her in a more mature and serious light. Viewers and critics have appreciated her calm acting, emotional scenes, and strong screen presence.
About Akhanda 2
Akhanda 2 was first planned to release on December 5 but finally hit theatres on December 12 due to financial reasons. The film faced tough competition from Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar, which was doing very well at the box office.
The film opened strongly but saw a drop in collections after the first day. It earned about Rs 30.5 crore on Day 1, Rs 15.5 crore on Day 2, Rs 15.1 crore on Day 3, Rs 5.25 crore on Day 4, and Rs 4.25 crore on Day 5. In six days, the total collection reached around Rs 70 crore in India.
Akhanda 2 also stars Samyuktha Menon, Aadhi Pinisetty, and Harshaali Malhotra. Directed by Boyapati Sreenu and produced by Ram Achanta, Gopi Achanta, and Ishan Saksena, its music is composed by Thaman S, cinematography handled by C Ramprasad and editing by Tammiraju.
Reports, including those from OTTPlay, suggest that Akhanda 2: Thaandavam will start streaming on Netflix after completing its theatrical run. While an official date is yet to be confirmed, it is expected to arrive around mid January 2026, roughly four weeks post release.
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