Actor Allu Arjun was released on bail almost a day after he was arrested in Hyderabad following the death of a woman in a crowd rush at a screening of his film, Pushpa 2: The Rule. According to reports, the tragic incident happened when the actor made a surprise visit to Sandhya Theatres on December 4. Fans who were excited to catch a glimpse of their favourite superstar thronged the event resulting in a stampede.
This excitement, however, claimed the life of Revathi, a resident of Dilsukhnagar, who had come to the movie premiere with her husband Bhaskar and their two children, Sri Tej (13) and Sanvika (7). The former child was also critically injured, reports said.
Case Against Allu Arjun
A case was registered post the incident against Allu Arjun as well as the owner of Sandhya Theatre, and the actor’s security team under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 118(1) (punishment for causing hurt) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Allu Arjun had earlier announced financial assistance of ₹25 lakh to the family of the deceased woman.
The deceased woman's husband shared a statement expressing that he was ready to withdraw the case. " It's not Allu Arjun's fault that he visited the theatre that day. I am ready to withdraw my case. Police didn't inform me of his arrest, I watched it on the news at the hospital. He (Arjun) has nothing to do with stampede," he told reporters, according to the Press Trust of India.
Allu Arjun spent a night in Chanchalguda prison despite authorities receiving a copy of the bail order in the evening, according to reports. Following his release, he said, "I want to thank all my fans. There is nothing to worry about. I would like to once again express my condolences to the family. It was an unfortunate incident. We are sorry for what happened."
The actor's counsel Ashok Reddy said, "You should question the government and the department why they have not released the accused. The High Court order is very specific. Forthwith, the moment you (prison authorities) receive the order, ( they should) release him. Despite the clear order, they have not released, they have to answer. This is an illegal detention. We will take legal steps."
Second death in Pushpa 2 screening
A 35-year-old man was found dead inside a movie theatre during the screening of the recently released Allu Arjun film Pushpa 2: The Rule in Kalyandurgam, Andhra Pradesh, on December 9. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ravi Babu told the Press Trust of India that the man identified as Harijana Madhannappa's body around 6 p.m. by the theatre’s cleaning staff. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act.
According to reports, Madhanappa had attended the film’s matinee show at around 2:30 pm in Rayadurgam in an intoxicated state. The police are still probing the reason for his death. “He was a father of four children and had a history of alcohol addiction. He was already drunk and consumed more alcohol inside the theatre," DSP Ravi said.
Times When Fandoms Turned Dangerous
The lack of crowd control measures has been a serious concern in India's entertainment industry. The Pushpa 2 incident is not the only time a fan-meet went wrong. Here are more times when audiences took drastic steps for their favourite superstars and ended up risking lives in the process.
Tiger 3 Fans Burst Fireworks In Theatre
In November 2023, Tiger 3 starring Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif and Emran Hashmi saw an explosive response as some fans in Nashik burst firecrackers inside the movie theatre. A video from Malegaon Theatre in Nashik was shared on X (Formerly Twitter), causing rage among netizens. The video was shot by some members of the audience in the balcony area who watched a dangerous stampede unfold in the hall as moviegoers rushed to find a safe space with the crackers causing an alarm.
Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma and actor Salman Khan urged fans to follow safety protocols and not disrupt the experience of fellow audiences in theatres. This isn't the first time such an incident happened. During the 2021 Salman Khan film Antim: The Final Truth too, fans burst crackers inside the theatre.
When A Fan Wanted To Donate His Kidney To Rajinikanth
In 2011, Rajinikanth was undergoing treatment at Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, Singapore, it was reported that the superstar might have to undergo a kidney transplant. A die-hearted fan of Rajinikanth from Coimbatore consumed an overdose of sleeping pills after hearing the news. The fan told doctors that he wanted to end his life and donate his kidney to the superstar!
Veer Promotions Broke The Escalator In Hyderabad
In 2010, when Salman Khan visited Prasad's IMAX theatre ahead of his film Veer's promotions, hundreds of fans rushed to the venue to catch a glimpse of their favourite superstar. This resulted in a massive stampede. Glass panes alongside the escalators broke even as people fell on each other, though no one was hurt and nothing untoward happened. This was one of the largest commotions that took place.
While we do adore our superstars, it is equally important to ensure proper civic laws in public and mindfully idolise our heroes to prevent any mishap.
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