Mowgli director Sandeep raj calls himself a 'bad luck' after Akhanda 2 release date change, Sai Dharam Tej offers support

The mid-budget movie, which stars Roshan Kanakala, was supposed to come out in theaters on December 12.

Director Sandeep Raj is quite upset that the makers of Nandamuri Balakrishna's Akhanda 2 changed the release schedule, which will have a direct effect on his next movie, Mowgli.

The mid-budget movie, which stars Roshan Kanakala, was supposed to come out in theaters on December 12. But since Akhanda 2 is now set to come out on the same day, Sandeep Raj and his crew have chosen to go with a direct OTT release to prevent a box office clash.

The filmmaker wrote an impassioned message on X calling himself "bad luck" and talking about how recurring problems with the release have hurt his goal of seeing his name on the big screen.

Your hardwork will pay off in the most unexpected ways Sandeep, keep your head held high and smile. Let the art form take its own course, At the end “cinema is winning” https://t.co/5Wc2FwrbSk

— Sai Dharam Tej (@IamSaiDharamTej) December 9, 2025

His message rapidly got a lot of attention from people in the business, and actor Sai Dharam Tej stepped up to offer words of support. Sai Dharam Tej told director Sandeep Raj not to give up after reading his message.

He promised him that hard work always pays off. "Your hard work will pay off in ways you never thought possible, Sandeep. Smile and hold your head high. Allow the art form to follow its own path. "At the end, cinema is winning," the actor wrote, which was a positive note in the middle of the disappointment.

Akhanda 2 was supposed to come out in theaters on December 5, but there were problems with money between the production company 14 Reels Plus and Eros International. After going through the courts, the Madras High Court gave the go-ahead for the film's release, which set the stage for its new date.

The hype around the Balakrishna movie made the people behind Mowgli rethink their intentions to show it in theaters.

Also read: Akhanda 2 release date: Nandamuri Balakrishna’s mass saga to hit theatres on December 12

In his passionate statement, Sandeep Raj talked about the problems that both Colour Photo and Mowgli have had, saying that his movies have had bad luck even though he worked hard on them.

He thanked his cast and crew for their hard work and said he hoped that Mowgli would at least be successful for their sake.

Mowgli, which stars Roshan Kanakala and Sakshi, will now be available on an OTT platform. This is another unexpected turn in Sandeep Raj's path, but it has also garnered him a lot of support from other people in the industry.