New Delhi: Protests erupted outside Telugu superstar Allu Arjun’s residence in Hyderabad’s Jubilee Hills on Sunday after a woman died while her son suffered critical injuries in a stampede at a theatre during the premiere for his latest movie, ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’. The agitators, reported to be members of the Osmania University Joint Action Committee (OU-JAC), vandalised flower pots and threw tomatoes outside the actor’s house.
The protesters jumped over the boundary wall of the actor’s property, shouted slogans, and left behind a placard accusing the film industry of profiting while endangering the lives of fans. The demonstrators were later arrested by the police from the scene.
STORY | Vandalism at Allu Arjun’s residence in Hyderabad
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Stampede at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad
The stampede occurred on December 4 during the premiere of Allu Arjun’s latest release at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre, where a massive crowd had gathered to catch a glimpse of him. This led to chaos at the theater. The situation worsened when the actor reportedly waved to fans from the sunroof of his car, triggering a stampede that claimed the life of a woman, who was later identified as Revathi. Her eight-year-old son in still in a coma.
Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy criticised Allu Arjun’s actions during the assembly session on Saturday, stating that the actor attended the event despite police refusing permission for the premiere. “The actor remained in the cinema hall even after the woman’s death, forcing the police to escort him out,” Reddy said.
Later in a press conference, Allu Arjun denied the allegations, saying that he had followed police instructions and was unaware of any restrictions. He also refuted the claims of holding a roadshow, adding, “I was simply following their guidance. There was no procession. If there had been any issues, I would have complied as a law-abiding citizen.” The actor has pledged his full cooperation with investigations.