Akhanda 2 is all set for release and online ticket bookings have already opened. But there is one major concern.
The paid premiere screenings are still not visible on any booking platform in Hyderabad. Only the regular shows from December 12 are open, and tickets are being sold.
Many fans are confused about why premiere tickets are not available when the first official screening is supposed to be the paid premieres on the night of December 11.
According to industry insiders, distributors may be playing a dirty trick here. They say that fans, in their excitement, book the earliest available show the moment bookings open.
Once the distributors are satisfied that enough seats for the regular shows have been sold, only then do they open the premiere tickets. What happens next is predictable.
Fans who desperately want to watch the earliest possible show end up buying premiere tickets at around Rs 600 each.
Since there is no cancellation policy on most booking platforms, these fans end up purchasing tickets twice.
When questioned, distributors often respond casually, saying fans can surely spend the price of two tickets for their favourite hero. This, insiders claim, is the trick played every time.
However, another insider from the producer’s side offers a different explanation.
According to him, certain settlements between distributors and producers are still pending. Because of this, the paid premiere tickets have not been opened yet. He denies any foul play in this matter.
The truth remains unclear, but the delay in opening paid premiere bookings has undoubtedly raised concerns among fans.
In fact, this issue is not limited to Akhanda 2. Several big-ticket films have seen similar situations in recent times.
Unless the government enforces a strict cancellation policy, such practices are likely to continue. But whether the government is willing to intervene is the real question.