Actor Allu Arjun has addressed allegations against him following the tragic death of a woman during a stampede-like situation at Sandhya Theatre on December 4, where his film Pushpa 2: The Rule was being screened. The actor denied the accusations, calling the incident an “unfortunate accident” and dismissed the claims as attempts at character assassination.
Arjun Denies Blame Amid Assembly Debate
The controversy escalated during a state assembly session where Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy alleged that Arjun had gone to the theatre without police permission and organized a roadshow, leading to chaos. Responding to these claims, Arjun stated, “I strictly followed the police instructions and did not organize any procession. My car stopped a few yards before the theatre due to the crowd. I stepped out only to wave at the audience and ease the situation.”
He emphasized that he was unaware of the tragedy until the following day. “When I learned about it, I wanted to visit the hospital, but my team advised against it due to the ongoing investigation,” Arjun said.
Actor Refutes AIMIM Leader’s Allegations
AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi accused Arjun of being insensitive, alleging that he remarked the incident would make his film a bigger success. Arjun categorically denied the claim, stating, “It’s a false allegation. I am not inhuman to utter such words.”
He also refuted suggestions that he ignored police advice to leave the theatre. “In the darkness, I don’t remember who spoke to me, but some theatre staff informed me the crowd was uncontrollable, and I had to leave,” he clarified.
Plans to Support the Victim’s Family
Arjun expressed regret for being unable to visit the bereaved family personally due to logistical and legal constraints. However, he assured support for the family, including financial aid and medical assistance, such as physiotherapy if required.
“I make films so you can come to theatres and enjoy them. It pains me to see such an unfortunate incident overshadow our hard work,” he said.
A Call for Empathy
Concluding his remarks, Allu Arjun expressed his sorrow over the tragedy and highlighted the importance of addressing the incident with compassion rather than blame. “There’s an attempt to undermine my character, and these accusations deeply hurt me,” he said, reiterating his commitment to supporting the victim’s family.
The tragedy has sparked widespread discussions about safety measures during high-profile film screenings and the accountability of public figures in such incidents.
Sources By Agencies