With Nandamuri Balakrishna, actions must align with words. If you try to convince him of something and later change it, it won’t work.
The latest buzz surrounding Boyapati’s Akhanda 2 is a perfect example of this.
Initially, Pragya Jaiswal was expected to reprise her role in the sequel, given her presence in the first film. However, reports suggest that she demanded a high remuneration, leading to failed negotiations.
This reportedly frustrated director Boyapati, prompting him to alter the script and introduce a new character, now played by Samyukta Menon.
The makers also suggested that Boyapati modify the storyline to depict Pragya’s character as deceased.
However, while filming the scene revealing Pragya Jaiswal’s character’s death, Balayya noticed something was missing.
When the crew seemed clueless, Balayya pointed out that a photo of the deceased character should be included. Boyapati, reluctant to use Pragya’s image, had deliberately excluded it.
In his signature style, Balayya reprimanded Boyapati with strong words and insisted that the photo be added to maintain the scene’s authenticity.
Additionally, Sanjay Dutt was initially considered for a key role. Though Boyapati later had second thoughts, Balayya intervened. Ignoring scheduling conflicts, he personally called Sanjay Dutt and finalized the deal.
In short, working with Balayya is no easy task—once he sets his mind on something, there’s no turning back!
