Telugu actor Allu Arjun and the management of Sandhya Theatre will face charges following a stampede at the premiere of his movie Pushpa 2: The Rule in Hyderabad, which left a woman dead and her nine-year-old son critically injured. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening when the actor arrived unannounced at the theatre, sparking chaos among fans, Hyderabad Police said on Thursday.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand stated that neither the theatre management nor the actor’s team informed authorities about the visit. “There was no separate entry or exit for the actor and his team, despite the management being aware of their arrival,” he said.
The stampede claimed the life of a 35-year-old woman, Revathi, and left her son, Teja, hospitalised due to asphyxiation. The incident unfolded as hundreds of fans gathered to see Mr. Arjun, who arrived at the theatre with music director Devi Sri Prasad around 9:30 PM. According to police, the actor’s security team pushed the crowd to create space, worsening the situation.
Revathi and her son were pulled out of the jostling crowd by police and given CPR before being rushed to Durgabai Deshmukh Hospital. Revathi was declared dead, while her son was shifted to another hospital for advanced care. Teja remains in critical condition.
The woman’s family, residents of Dilsukhnagar, have demanded accountability from both the theatre management and Allu Arjun. They also called on the actor to extend support.
Police have registered a case under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita based on a complaint by the victim’s family. “Stringent action as per law will be taken against all persons responsible for the chaotic situation,” said Commissioner Anand.
The theatre management is also under scrutiny for failing to arrange adequate security measures despite anticipating a large crowd. No official statement has been issued by either the actor or the theatre at the time of filing this report.
In a statement on social media platform X, production house Mythri Movie Makers expressed sorrow over the tragedy. “We are committed to standing by them and extending all possible support during this difficult time,” it said.
The incident has raised concerns over crowd management and safety at high-profile events, with authorities pledging to prevent such occurrences in the future.