Two weeks after the tragic events at the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre, questions continue to arise about the handling of the situation. The stampede-like incident left a woman dead and her young son, Sri Tej, critically injured. While a case has been filed against lead actor Allu Arjun and the theatre management for failing to inform the police of his visit, his father, producer Allu Aravind, visited the hospitalised boy on Wednesday to provide an update on his condition.
Speaking to the press after his hospital visit, Allu Aravind said, “I just visited Sri Tej in the ICU. I have spoken to the doctors looking after him. The boy has been recovering slowly in the last 10 days, but it might take longer. We are ready to support in any way we can to help him recover. I am thankful that the government has also stepped forward to help him reach normalcy.”
Aravind addressed concerns about Allu Arjun’s absence, explaining, “Many people wonder why Allu Arjun hasn’t visited the hospital yet. He wanted to visit them the day after the stampede. However, the hospital authorities asked him to stay put for safety reasons. It’s the same day a case was filed against him.”
He further clarified that their legal team, led by Niranjan Reddy, advised Arjun not to visit the family at this stage. “I have taken permission from the authorities to visit the boy today because [Arjun] felt bad he couldn’t visit them. I thank CM Revanth Reddy, the police, and the hospital authorities for agreeing,” he added.
Timeline of the Incident
The incident occurred on 4 December, when Allu Arjun, accompanied by co-star Rashmika Mandanna and his wife, Allu Sneha Reddy, visited Sandhya Theatre at RTC X Roads in Hyderabad. The unexpected visit drew massive crowds, leading to a chaotic situation that turned deadly.
The police filed an FIR against Arjun and the theatre management for failing to notify authorities about his visit, which could have allowed for better crowd control.
On 13 December, Arjun was arrested by the Chikkadapally Police and held overnight at Chanchalaguda Central Jail. The Nampally Court initially placed him on a 14-day remand. However, the Telangana High Court granted him a four-week interim bail, allowing him to return home.
Since his release, Arjun has spoken to the press, expressing deep grief over the incident. While he has not yet met the victim’s family in person, he has assured the public of his support and cooperation in the ongoing investigation.
The tragedy has sparked intense scrutiny over the management of high-profile events, particularly in crowded urban areas. Fans and critics alike have called for stricter protocols to prevent such incidents in the future, especially for events involving major celebrities.