Allu Arjun “Shocked”, Expresses Grief Over “Unfortunate” Sandhya Theatre Tragedy

December 8, 2024: The overwhelming success of Pushpa 2 has been overshadowed by a tragic incident that occurred during the film’s premiere at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre on December 4. While the film opened to a thunderous response from fans, the atmosphere was deeply saddened by the death of a woman in a stampede that broke out as fans thronged to watch the film. The incident also resulted in injuries to her son.

On Saturday, the team of Pushpa 2 gathered for a success meet, where they expressed their shock and grief over the tragedy. Allu Arjun, the film’s star, addressed the media and said, “The incident that took place in 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. 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.”

Director Sukumar also shared his sorrow, emphasizing the deep emotional impact the incident had on him. “I have worked for over 6 years on this film, but I’ve not been happy for 3 days now because a director is always sensitive. Irrespective of me working for 3 years or 6 years, I cannot create a life. My heart is broken due to what happened. I am very sorry for that… I apologise to the family and assure you, we will always support you.”

The stampede broke out as fans gathered to watch Pushpa 2 during its premiere, with the police resorting to a mild lathi charge to control the crowd. Tragically, a woman lost her life, and her son was injured in the chaos.

In response to the tragedy, Allu Arjun took to social media on Friday, sharing a video where he expressed his condolences and announced financial assistance for the grieving family. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family. We understand that no words or actions can ever compensate for the loss you are bearing. I would like to extend financial assistance of Rs 25 lakh to the family as a goodwill gesture… we will also take care of the medical expenses…” he said in the video, assuring the family of his support.

The video was accompanied by a heartfelt caption that read, “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 extend every possible assistance to help them navigate through this challenging journey.”

The makers of the film, Mythri Movie Makers, also issued an official statement expressing their sorrow: “We are extremely heartbroken by the tragic incident during last night’s screening. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and the young child undergoing medical treatment. We are committed to standing by them and extending all possible support during this difficult time. With deep sorrow.”

Despite this tragedy, Pushpa 2 has been a massive box-office success, with cinema halls reporting houseful shows since its release on Thursday. According to the film’s team, it registered an impressive Rs 294 crore globally on its first day, marking a strong start for the much-anticipated sequel.

While the team is celebrating the film’s success, their thoughts and prayers remain with the affected family, with Allu Arjun and the filmmakers committed to offering their support during this incredibly difficult time.