‘Pushpa 2’ stampede tragedy: Allu Arjun announces Rs 25 lakh for victim’s family
The police have filed a case against the theatre management, Allu Arjun, and his security team.
Actor Allu Arjun on Friday expressed grief over the death of a woman, who suffocated during a stampede at the premiere of Pushpa 2 at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad. The Telugu star said he was "deeply heartbroken" and assured the family financial assistance of ₹ 25 lakh.
The incident occurred when Allu Arjun visited the theatre premises on Wednesday (December 4, 2024) night. While the woman died in the incident, her nine-year-old son remains critical and is undergoing treatment at KIMS Hospital. The police have filed a case against the theatre management, Allu Arjun, and his security team.
Apart from the financial assistance, the actor said he would also take care of the medical expenses to ensure that the injured members receive the best care. Allu Arjun took to X and posted a video where he offered his condolences to the family.
"Deeply heartbroken by the tragic incident at Sandhya Theatre. My heartfelt condolences go out to the grieving family during this unimaginably difficult time. I want to assure them they are not alone in this pain and I will meet the family personally. While respecting their need for space to grieve, I stand committed to extend every possible assistance to help them navigate through this challenging journey," the caption read.
In the video, Allu Arjun said he never expected to hear such "tragic news" and added how no words or action can compensate for the loss of the family. "We stand with you emotionally and will do everything within our capacity to support you in this difficult time,” he added.
The actor concluded his video by requesting his fans to be "cautious while enjoying" movies in cinemas. "Please take care and ensure you return home safely after watching the film."
Special shows of Pushpa 2 — which also stars Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil— began at 9.30 PM on Wednesday night across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Bengaluru.
According to trade estimates, the film netted ₹175 cr all over India on day one, including special paid previews in Telugu which were held on Wednesday. With this, Pushpa 2: The Rule has now become the biggest opener, surpassing the previous best of SS Rajamouli's RRR, which had minted ₹133 cr on day one, across all languages.