Allu Arjun on Sandhya Theatre stampede: “It was accident, had no clue until next day, all allegations are false”
Hyderabad: Tollywood actor Allu Arjun addressed the media on December 21, 2024, after Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy criticized him in the Assembly over the stampede at Sandhya Theatre during the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule. The incident, which occurred on December 4, resulted in the death of Revathi and the hospitalization of her son, Sritej.
Allu Arjun expressed his shock and said he was not aware of the incident during the premiere. “It was an unfortunate accident. No one involved is at fault. It was purely an accident,” he stated. “I had no idea about the incident at the time. I heard about it the next day, and I am deeply saddened.”
The actor responded to the allegations against him, asserting that false claims were being made. “False allegations are being spread about me. I have not made the statements attributed to me. This is an attempt at character assassination,” he stated. “I am deeply hurt by these claims, especially since they are being broadcast on national media.”
He also mentioned following up on the health updates of Sritej, who was injured in the stampede. “The boy is doing well now, and that’s the only positive news in this situation,” Allu Arjun said.
Allu Arjun revealed that the incident had affected him personally. “For the past two weeks, I have been staying at home, feeling depressed. Despite the success of my film, I haven’t had the chance to see it in theatres,” he said.
The actor explained his presence at the theatre, saying he had visited as he always does for movie premieres. “I didn’t know about any crowd issues at the time. If there were no permissions, the authorities would have informed me,” he explained. “I was waving to the audience out of respect. There was no procession or roadshow, as some have claimed.”
He clarified that after entering the theater and watching part of the film, his management informed him about the large crowd outside. “My management told me the crowd was too large, so I left midway through the movie. I had no idea about the accident until the next day,” he said.
Upon learning of the incident, Allu Arjun sent his associate, Bunny Vyas, to the hospital to oversee the situation. “I wanted to visit, but my legal team advised against it because a case had been filed,” he said.
The actor also explained that due to the legal proceedings, he was unable to meet the victims’ family. “I understand their pain, and as a father with children of my own, I would feel the same,” he said.
Allu Arjun’s father, Allu Arvind, also spoke about the emotional toll on his son. “Bunny (Allu Arjun) has been very depressed. I’ve told him to take a break, but he hasn’t been able to,” he said.
The stampede has become a significant issue in the Telangana Assembly. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has accused actor Allu Arjun of being indifferent to the tragedy. Reddy criticized Allu Arjun for allegedly not taking action after being informed about the incident, stating that the actor chose to remain at the theater instead of addressing the situation.
AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi fueled the controversy further by alleging that when Allu Arjun was told about the stampede, he remarked, “Now the movie will be a hit,” a comment that has sparked widespread outrage.
The incident claimed the life of Revathi, the mother of Sritej. Revathi was seen gripping her son’s hand so tightly that police had difficulty separating them. The family, which earns ₹30,000 a month, had spent ₹3,000 on tickets for the screening due to their son’s admiration for Allu Arjun.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also questioned the film industry’s support for the actor, asking, “Did his hand or leg break? Why is the industry supporting him instead of focusing on the victims?”
The incident occurred during the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad. A large crowd gathered to see Allu Arjun, causing overcrowding in the lower balcony where Revathi and her son were trapped. Revathi later died at the hospital, while Sritej was hospitalized.
Revathi’s husband, Magudampalli Bhaskar, filed a complaint blaming the overcrowding, the lack of proper arrangements, and the presence of Allu Arjun and his security team for the stampede. A case was filed against Allu Arjun, his security team, the theatre management, and others involved.
Allu Arjun was also arrested in connection with the incident and sent to judicial custody. However, he was granted interim bail on December 20, 2024, by the Telangana High Court on a personal bond of ₹50,000.
The controversy continues as Allu Arjun maintains his innocence and expresses condolences for the victims.
