Hyderabad witnessed a tragic turn of events during the screening of Pushpa 2: The Rule at Sandhya Theatre when an uncontrollable crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of star Allu Arjun, leading to a stampede.
The Incident and Immediate Repercussions
The tragedy unfolded when Allu Arjun, along with his team, visited the Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad during the screening of Pushpa 2: The Rule. Thousands of fans rushed to see the actor, and the ensuing chaos led to a stampede. Revathi tragically lost her life in the commotion.
Following the incident, the Hyderabad police registered a case against Allu Arjun, his secretary, and the theatre management, citing negligence for failing to notify the authorities about the actor’s presence. This failure, they argued, contributed to the crowd mismanagement and the eventual stampede.
Victim’s Husband Withdraws Case
In a surprising turn, Revathi’s husband, Bhaskar, withdrew the case against Allu Arjun. Expressing his support for the actor, Bhaskar stated, “I was not aware of the arrest, and Allu Arjun has nothing to do with the stampede in which my wife passed away. I am ready to withdraw the case.”
Allu Arjun’s Detention and Clarifications
Videos of Allu Arjun being escorted to the Chikkadpally police station for questioning have been circulating on social media. However, his team has clarified that the actor was not arrested but merely detained to assist with the investigation. The actor’s team also emphasized that he had no direct role in the stampede.
In response to the tragedy, Allu Arjun extended his heartfelt condolences to the victim’s family and announced financial assistance of ₹25 lakh. Taking to social media platform X, he wrote, “Deeply heartbroken by the tragic incident at Sandhya Theatre. My heartfelt condolences go out to the grieving family during this unimaginably difficult time. I want to assure them they are not alone in this pain and will meet the family personally. While respecting their need for space to grieve, I stand committed to extending every possible assistance to help them navigate through this challenging journey.”
Deeply heartbroken by the tragic incident at Sandhya Theatre. My heartfelt condolences go out to the grieving family during this unimaginably difficult time. I want to assure them they are not alone in this pain and will meet the family personally. While respecting their need for… pic.twitter.com/g3CSQftucz
— Allu Arjun (@alluarjun) December 6, 2024
Industry Reactions
Actor Varun Dhawan, addressing the incident at an event, expressed sorrow and defended Allu Arjun. He remarked, “An actor cannot take responsibility for everything. We can inform people around us. What happened is very tragic, and I send my condolences. But at the same time, I cannot put the blame on just one person.
Allu Arjun’s Emotional Address
At the film’s success meet, a visibly shaken Allu Arjun reflected on the tragedy. “The incident that took place in the Sandhya Theatre is very unfortunate… I’m shocked. It took me hours to process it and respond to the incident. I couldn’t process it psychologically—it took me around 10 hours. We all blanked out when we heard the news. Sukumar sir also got extremely emotional. I will personally meet them later. We will always be there and try to support the family,” he said.
Ongoing Investigation
While Revathi’s husband has withdrawn the case, the investigation continues as authorities probe the circumstances leading to the stampede. Questions surrounding event management and crowd control remain under scrutiny.
