Madras High Court Halts the Release of Akhanda 2 After Eros International Files Petition

December 4, 2025 Published by rajeshe092eb6a68

The Madras High Court has issued an interim stay preventing the release and commercial exploitation of the upcoming film Akhanda 2, following a petition filed by Eros International Media Ltd. The order comes after Eros alleged that the makers were attempting to bypass an unpaid arbitral award of ₹27.7 crore, which has remained unsettled since 2019. The injunction effectively pauses the film’s theatrical, digital, satellite, and all other forms of release until further orders from the court.

According to case documents, the dispute arises from an arbitral award passed in July 2019 in favour of Eros International against 14 Reels Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. The award, which became final after being upheld by the Madras High Court, a Division Bench, and later the Supreme Court, directed the production house to pay ₹27,70,97,298 along with interest. However, Eros informed the court that not a single rupee had been paid in the four years following the award.

Eros argued that 14 Reels Plus LLP, an affiliate company linked to the same promoters, was preparing to release Akhanda 2 as a means to evade the payment obligations of the original arbitral verdict. The petition claimed that this restructuring was a strategic attempt by the respondents to shield assets and avoid legal liabilities.

After reviewing the submissions, the High Court agreed that an interim injunction was necessary to protect Eros’s interests. The court imposed a ban on releasing, distributing, streaming, or commercially exploiting Akhanda 2 until the arbitral amount is fully paid or the dispute is resolved as per law.

The order is a significant setback for the production team behind the highly anticipated sequel. It remains unclear how soon the matter will be resolved, but for now, the release of Akhanda 2 stands suspended across all platforms.