Actor Responds to Accusations Amid Political Criticism Over Chaos at ‘Pushpa 2’ Premiere Event
Hyderabad (Telangana), December 22: Telugu superstar Allu Arjun has addressed the controversy surrounding the Sandhya Theatre tragedy during the premiere of his blockbuster film, ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Arjun described the incident as “very unfortunate” while dismissing allegations of misconduct and character assassination directed at him.
Allu Arjun’s Response to Allegations
Arjun expressed deep sorrow over the incident, which resulted in the death of a woman named Revathi and injuries to her child during a chaotic crowd surge.
“It is a very unfortunate incident, and my condolences go to the family. I am closely monitoring the child’s condition, and I’m relieved to hear he is improving. There is a lot of misinformation and false accusations being made, but I refuse to blame any department, political leader, or the government,” Arjun stated.
He further clarified his position, saying, “I worked hard on this movie for three years, but I’ve been sitting alone for 15 days, reflecting on the tragedy. I did not attend any functions or events. I apologize deeply for what happened, even though I had no direct involvement.”
ALSO READ: Sandhya Theatre Incident: Allu Arjun’s Father Visits Hospital To Meet Injured Boy
Political Allegations and Government’s Response
Earlier in the day, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy alleged in the State Assembly that police had denied permission for any public event at Sandhya Theatre, citing safety concerns.
“Despite police warnings about the venue’s limited exit points and inability to manage large crowds, the hero attended the premiere and performed a roadshow from his car roof. Even after being asked to leave by authorities, he initially refused,” the Chief Minister stated.
AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi also criticized Arjun, accusing him of “irresponsible behavior” and claiming it directly contributed to the tragic outcome.
The Incident Timeline
On December 4, during the premiere of ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’, a massive crowd gathered at Sandhya Theatre to catch a glimpse of Allu Arjun. The chaos escalated when Arjun greeted fans from the sunroof of his vehicle, leading to a stampede-like situation where Revathi tragically lost her life, and her child sustained injuries.
Following the incident, Allu Arjun was briefly detained and later released on bail by the Telangana High Court after furnishing a ₹50,000 bond.
Allu Arjun’s Final Remarks
Addressing the accusations, Arjun emphasized:
“I’ve been in the industry for over 20 years, and those who know me understand I would never intentionally behave irresponsibly. This tragedy weighs heavily on me, and I hope such an incident never happens again.”
Box Office Success Amid Controversy
Despite the controversy, ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’, directed by Sukumar and co-starring Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil, continues to dominate at the box office, setting new records.
As investigations continue, the focus remains on ensuring accountability and preventing similar tragedies in the future.
