The blockbuster success of Pushpa 2: The Rule was overshadowed by a tragic incident during its premiere at Sandhya 70mm theater in Hyderabad, where a stampede claimed the life of a woman named Revathi. Actor Allu Arjun was briefly detained in connection with the tragedy but was later granted interim bail.
Until now, no prominent Mega family hero had addressed the incident publicly. For the first time, Power Star Pawan Kalyan, who also serves as the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, shared his thoughts on the matter.
“A minor issue was unnecessarily escalated into a major controversy,” said Pawan Kalyan. He praised Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, describing him as a leader who rose from the grassroots and has been highly supportive of the film industry. “CM Revanth Reddy’s policies, including allowing benefit shows and ticket price hikes, have significantly boosted the earnings of films like Salaar and Pushpa 2. His contributions were instrumental to Pushpa 2’s success,” he added.
Addressing Allu Arjun’s involvement, Kalyan remarked, “I don’t have complete details about what happened, but the law applies equally to everyone. While the police focus on maintaining security, theater staff should have informed Allu Arjun of the potential risks beforehand or clarified the situation after he took his seat. Moreover, it would have been appropriate for someone from his team to reach out to Revathi’s family much earlier.”
Expressing his condolences, Kalyan said, “It’s heartbreaking to lose a life over such an incident. The situation escalated due to the lack of timely empathy and support for the victim’s family. Immediate solidarity could have prevented much of the public outrage. Everyone involved should have visited Revathi’s family to offer reassurance and support.”
He also commented on the emotional burden faced by Allu Arjun: “He carries the guilt of being associated with this tragedy, but cinema is a collective effort, and it’s unfair to place all the blame on him. CM Revanth Reddy acted in his official capacity, and decisions were made considering the circumstances. Even my brother, Chiranjeevi, used to watch films with fans but often went alone or in disguise to avoid such risks.”
In conclusion, Pawan Kalyan emphasized the need for accountability and compassion, highlighting the importance of collective responsibility within the film fraternity to prevent such tragedies in the future.
