The recent face-off between Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and actor Allu Arjun over the stampede at Sandhya Theatre on December 5 has begun to show signs of de-escalation, with conciliatory statements and compensation for the victim’s family.

The outpour of sympathy and support for the family of the 39-year-old mother who tragically died, and her nine-year-old son who survived life-threatening injuries, is heartening. One can only hope that as a society, we take collective responsibility to prevent such stampedes—particularly those caused by the frenzy surrounding film stars and movie releases.

That said, the Arjun vs. Reddy battle mirrors a familiar narrative in southern Indian politics: the clash between a star and a powerful politician. This story has played out numerous times, both in the political arena and in film scripts. In real-world politics, history shows that it is generally unwise for politicians to antagonise stars, especially those at the peak of their popularity.  

MGR vs Karunanidhi

The first notable example from Tamil Nadu where a politician who took on a star lost the battle is the defining story of Dravidian politics. The late Chief Minister and DMK patriarch, M. Karunanidhi, antagonised the enormously popular M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), an actor who had a massive following.

MGR worked closely with Karunanidhi in films and was part of the DMK, which was founded by former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai, or ‘Anna’. When Anna passed away while in office in 1969, Karunanidhi took over as Chief Minister and president of the DMK. A rift with MGR followed, leading to a split in the party. MGR went on to form his own party, the All India Anna DMK (AIADMK), and not only defeated Karunanidhi’s DMK but also kept him out of power until his death in 1987.

While there were many other factors at play, including the declaration of emergency, it was fundamentally the narrative of MGR’s persecution that fuelled the rise of the AIADMK. This emotional connection helped keep Karunanidhi and his DMK out of power in successive elections, till MGR was alive. 

Rajnikanth vs. Jayalalithaa, 1996

In 1996, the late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa—MGR’s successor and a popular actor who took over the AIADMK—had a face-off with superstar Rajnikanth. The friction between the two leaders, who were neighbours in Chennai’s posh Poes Garden area, escalated when Rajnikanth publicly declared that “even God could not save the state if Jayalalithaa came back to power”.

In the 1996 elections, the AIADMK was decisively routed, with even Jayalalithaa losing her seat. There were multiple reasons for this defeat and Rajnikanth’s statement contributed to the atmosphere, but the episode serves as a reminder that a public confrontation with a powerful star is rarely advantageous for a politician in Dravidian politics.

Although Rajnikanth never formally entered politics, he made a film in 1998, Padayappa, where the antagonist was a woman—interpreted by many as a veiled reference to the ousted Jayalalithaa. In the years that followed, there was a reconciliation between the two, with Rajnikanth remaining officially apolitical, though he sporadically made statements in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) until Jayalalithaa’s death.

NTR In Telugu politics, Rajkumar In Karnataka

In the world of Telugu politics, it was the most popular star of the time, NT Rama Rao (NTR), who toppled the Congress in 1983. While there was no narrative of the “persecution of the star” in the assembly battle back then, NTR capitalised on a narrative of the Congress hurting Telugu pride. This political victory still contributes to the stereotype of star power in Southern politics.

Generally, political leaders in Telugu, Tamil and even Kannada politics have treaded carefully when dealing with stars. For example, in Karnataka, Kannada superstar Rajkumar, who stayed away from politics throughout his life, played a significant role in the Gokak agitation for the Kannada language in the early 1980s. This movement contributed to the defeat of the then Congress Chief Minister R. Gundu Rao and the Janata Party’s victory in the 1983 state elections.

While not all stars have been successful in politics, there are enough historical lessons for southern politicians to avoid friction with a star—especially one at the height of his popularity.

What Reddy Can Learn From Stalin

Currently, Tamil Nadu is witnessing the rise of actor Vijay with his political party. Although Vijay has been critical of the ruling DMK, Chief Minister Stalin has refrained from engaging in a war of words. Stalin has even instructed his party, including his son and Deputy Chief Minister Udayanidhi, to avoid getting involved in a public dispute.

Having been a witness to the history of Dravidian politics as the late Karunanidhi’s aide, Stalin understands that politically attacking a star only boosts his or her mass appeal and influence.  

While the Arjun Vs Reddy controversy isn’t electoral in nature—at least not yet—it remains unclear how such a public confrontation erupted in Hyderabad, given the deeply intertwined world of politics and cinema. With close connections, including family linkages, it’s hard to believe this was purely about the stampede. Whatever the reasons, history is a reminder for Revanth Reddy to avoid star-studded confrontations in the future. 

(TM Veeraraghav is Executive Editor, NDTV)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

Hyderabad (Telangana):

The boy injured in the Sandhya theatre incident during the premiere of Pushpa 2 in Telangana’s Hyderabad has responded after 20 days, his father said on Tuesday.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Bhaskar, the father of the injured child, expressed gratitude for the support they are receiving. “The child responded after 20 days… he is responding today. Allu Arjun and the Telangana government are supporting us,” he said.

Earlier in the day, actor Allu Arjun was questioned by Hyderabad police in connection with the tragic incident that occurred during the premiere of his film Pushpa 2 on December 4.

The controversy stems from an incident on December 4, when Allu Arjun attended the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule at the Sandhya Theatre.

A massive crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of the actor, and chaos ensued when he waved to fans from the sunroof of his car. This led to the tragic death of a woman named Revathi and injuries to her child.

Following the incident, Allu Arjun was arrested and later released on bail after furnishing a Rs 50,000 bond.

In the latest development, Pushpa 2 producers Naveen Yerneni and Ravi Shankar handed over a 50 lakh cheque to Revathi’s family in the presence of Telangana Minister for Roads & Buildings and Cinematography, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, at KIMS Hospital, Hyderabad. The cheque was received by Revathi’s husband, the father of Sri Tej, who is undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Producer Naveen Yerneni stated, “This is a very unfortunate incident. We have been deeply saddened since the day it happened. We cannot express our feelings. Revathi’s death is a significant loss for the family. We visited the boy in the hospital, and he is recovering. The doctors are doing their best. We want to support the family, and this cheque is part of that effort.”

The incident has sparked political controversy, with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy blaming Allu Arjun for the tragedy. Addressing the Assembly, Reddy revealed that police had denied permission for any event at Sandhya Theatre due to safety concerns.

“On December 2, Sanadhya theatre owners requested arrangements for the cast and crew of Pushpa 2 to attend the premiere at Sandhya Theatre on December 4,” Reddy said.

“However, on December 3, the Chikkadpally Circle Inspector rejected the request in writing, citing the theatre’s location in a congested area with only one entry and exit point, making it difficult to ensure safety. Despite this, the actor attended the event, climbed onto his car roof, and conducted a roadshow, worsening the situation,” he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The recent stampede at a Hyderabad movie hall that claimed the life of a woman, is not entirely the fault of Telugu superstar Allu Arjun, the government and the police also had a role to play, an eyewitness of the tragedy has pointed out. Vijay who was at the spot on December 4 during the premiere of ‘Pushpa 2: The Rise’, explained several aspects of the situation that have not been widely known so far. 

Speaking to NDTV, Vijay said, “It is not that Allu Arjun is completely at fault. So is the police and so is the government. It is the government who gave permission and who charges Rs 1100 per ticket and what did they give us in return? They gave us lathicharge… Instead of trying to blame each other, everybody has to own up to their mistakes”.

Close to 3000 people had gathered at the spot for a glimpse of Allu Arjun, whose PR team had made it “obvious” that he would be present for the premiere, he told NDTV.

The police station, he added, is just 1 km away from the spot where these 3000 people gathered. Even so, the police deployed only 20 to 25 personnel, who were assisting VIPs who came for the premiere, he said. 

“They were trying to make way for the VIPs to enter the theatre and there was no one to check the tickets, nor to control the crowds and there was no barricade or ropes,” he told NDTV.  

“My point here is that the police are overenthusiastic in trying to prevent any law-and-order situation. Why did they not send Allu Arjun back if they have not given any permission?” he said. 

Allu Arjun underwent a marathon 3-4 hour questioning session today. The police have indicated thye might question him again soon. 

After a woman ws killed and her son critically injured during the December 4 stampede, Allu Arjun was arrested but he got bail soon after. 

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has accused Allu Arjun of visiting the theatre without police permission and conducting a ‘roadshow’ even after the stampede. The police said he was not ready to leave even after knowing of the woman’s death. 

Hyderabad:
Actor Arjun Allu has been summoned by Hyderabad police today as part of the ongoing probe into the stampede during the screening of his movie ‘Pushpa-2’. A woman was killed and her son critically injured in the incident this month.

Here Are Top Points On ‘Pushpa 2’ Screening Stampede Case:

Hyderabad:

A senior leader of the Congress in Telangana has filed a complaint with the police against Telugu superstar Allu Arjun over his new movie ‘Pushpa 2: The Rise’, alleging a scene in it insults the police force.

Congress’s Theenmar Mallanna filed the complaint with the Medipalli police station. Besides the actor, the complaint names the movie’s director Sukumar, and the producers. 

Theenmar Mallanna has specifically criticised a scene where the protagonist urinates in a swimming pool while a police officer is in it. The MLC described the scene as disrespectful and degrading to the dignity of law enforcement officers.

In his complaint, he demanded action against the film’s director Sukumar and Allu Arjun, who plays the lead, as well as the producers of the movie. He urged authorities to take strict measures to address what he called an offensive portrayal of the police.

The fresh complaint comes on the heels of the massive row over the stampede at a movie hall in Hyderabad during the premiere of the film on December 4. A woman had died at Sandhya Theatre and her eight-year-old son, who was critically injured, is still in a coma. 

Allu Arjun, who was present for the premiere despite the refusal of police permission, was arrested and is currently out on bail. 

While the woman’s husband, Bhaskar, says he is ready to drop the case against the actor, the state police has issued a fresh notice to Allu Arjun, asking him to appear for questioning at 11 am on Tuesday. 

The matter is now escalating into a political row, with the state’s Opposition BJP and Bharat Rashtra Samithi targetting the Congress government over Sunday’s violent protests at the actor’s house. 

The Opposition is claiming that some of the attackers belonged to the Kodangal assembly constituency of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.

Six people, who claim to be students of Osmania University have been arrested for allegedly throwing tomatoes at Allu Arjun’s home and damaging flower pots.

New Delhi:

‘Pushpa 2’ actor Allu Arjun has been summoned by the Hyderabad Police for questioning tomorrow in the theatre stampede case. He is out on bail, after he spent a night in jail.

A woman was killed and her son was critically injured in the stampede that happened during the screening of ‘Pushpa 2’ in Hyderabad on December 4.

Allu Arjun will have to go to Chikkadpally police station at 11 am tomorrow, the police said. The actor’s legal team came to his house this evening to discuss the development.

After the stampede, the theatre management, Allu Arjun and his team were charged for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

He was arrested on December 13, and was sent to 14-day custody by a city court. The same day, the Telangana High Court granted him interim bail for four weeks.

The fresh notice to Allu Arjun came amid reports that the police are planning to approach the high court to cancel his interim bail.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand on Sunday said the police would take the next step in the case after taking legal opinion. The police chief also released minute-to-minute CCTV footage of the incident at Sandhya Theatre to counter Allu Arjun’s claims.

The police compiled a 10-minute video to provide a clear account of what happened on December 4. Mr Anand said the video was compiled after analysing 1,000 clips.

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, speaking in the assembly, had come down heavily on Allu Arjun for visiting the theatre without police permission and conducting a ‘roadshow’ even after the stampede.

The same day, Allu Arjun had addressed a press conference, terming the allegations as false. He also said he was hurt over “character assassination”.

With inputs from IANS

Hyderabad:

The husband of the woman who died in the stampede at the premiere of the movie ‘Pushpa 2: The Rise’, says he does not blame Telugu superstar Allu Arjun for the events of December 4 and is ready to withdraw the police case filed in the matter. Bhaskar, whose son is still in coma and admitted in hospital, said he has received full support from the actor regarding the treatment of his son. 

His son, Shri Tej, is a fan of Allu Arjun and it was mainly on his insistence that the family had gone to the event, he told NDTV in an exclusive interview today. The eight-year-old has been in a coma for the last 20 days. He opens his eyes sometimes, but does not yet recognise anyone. “We do not know how long the treatment will take,” he said. 

The producers of ‘Pushpa-2’ have extended a financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh to the family. The cheque was handed over when producer Naveen Yerneni visited Shri Tej today.

His daughter, he said, has not been told of her mother’s death. “We have told her that she has gone to the village. She has no idea about what happened,” he said.

Allu Arjun, Bhaskar said, has been supporting them from Day 2. “We do not want to blame anybody and consider it our bad luck… we were blamed for the arrest but we do not have the strength to fight,” he said.

The actor, who was arrested on December 13, is in a 14-day judicial custody in the case filed by the family. “I am ready to withdraw the case. I was not aware of the arrest and Allu Arjun has nothing to do with the stampede in which my wife passed away,” Bhaskar had said after the arrest.

Allu Arjun has been blamed by many for the stampede at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre, which the state police implied, could have happened due to his presence at the venue. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has said the actor was present at the spot despite the denial of police permission. 

He had even waved from his car’s sun-roof on his way in and out, holding a roadshow of sorts and triggering a stampede-like situation. Even after learning of the death of the woman, Revathi, the actor did not leave the cinema hall, prompting the police to force him out, the Chief Minister had said.

Hyderabad:

Despite police permission being denied, top Telugu actor Allu Arjun visited the theatre here where ‘Pushpa-2’ was screened on December 4, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy charged on Saturday. However, the allegation was refuted by the top actor.

Even after the death of a woman in a stampede, the actor did not leave the cinema hall, prompting the police to force him out, CM alleged.

Responding to the issue after AIMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi raised it in the Assembly, Reddy, referring to videos in circulation, found fault with Allu Arjun for holding a roadshow and waving to the crowds in spite of the heavy crowd.

Reddy further said the theatre management submitted a letter to the police on December 2 seeking security for the visit of top actors and others on December 4. However, the police rejected the application, citing difficulties in crowd management and the fact that the theatre had only one entry and exit.

Hours after Reddy slammed the actor, Allu Arjun, in a hurriedly held press conference, refuted the allegations saying, it was not true and in fact, the police were clearing the way for him and he reached the venue under their directions.

He, without referring to anyone, also refuted the allegations that he held a roadshow waving to the crowd.

“Had there not been permission, they would have told us to return and I am a law-abiding citizen. I would’ve followed that. Nothing of that sort of information was given to me. I was following as per their guidance and it was not a roadshow. There was no procession. It was just a crowd a few meters away from the theatre, he said, adding it was the police who were clearing the way for him and he reached the venue under their directions.

CM Reddy alleged that before entering the theatre and exiting, the actor stood through the sunroof of his car and waved to the crowds in a roadshow, leading to thousands of fans jostling to get a glimpse of him.

Reddy said thousands of fans gathered when the actor reached as there are several theatres at the locality.

The actor’s private security pushed aside the fans, which led to a stampede-like situation, the CM said.

Reddy, who narrated the incident, said the theatre management did not initially allow a police official to meet the actor to convey him to leave the place in view of the prevailing situation. However, the official reached the actor and asked him to leave, as the crowd would not go unless he left. The actor did not budge.

A senior police official, who then reached the spot, told the actor to leave the place immediately, failing which, he would have to be taken to the police station as the situation was out of control.

The senior official forced the actor out of the theatre. Even while leaving, the actor again waved to the crowd. “What type of person (the actor was)”, Reddy asked.

The actor allegedly did not behave properly with the police when the latter reached his residence to inform him about the case against him, he said.

The CM slammed film personalities for making a beeline for Allu Arjun’s residence to meet him after his arrest but not showing empathy to visit the boy who is undergoing treatment in hospital and faced a brain dead-like situation after suffering injuries in the incident.

“I appeal to the top film personalities that they should not be inhuman,” he said.

“When he (Allu Arjun) was taken to police station for a day, the high court also accepted lunch motion petition and gave him bail. Our people are saying release him at 12 in the night. Where is the provision (to release at midnight)?,” he asked.

The CM also said he is continuously monitoring the boy’s health condition.

The film industry can take incentives, subsidies from the government but there won’t be any special privileges when untoward incidents like death in a stampede happen and said the government would not spare those who troubled common people, he said.

Reddy attacked BRS working president K T Rama Rao, without naming him, for his criticism against the government when Allu Arjun was arrested.

State Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy spoke against allowing ‘benefit shows’ in the night without permissions. He announced Rs 25 lakh assistance from his side to the family of the victim, besides the government taking care of the boy’s health.

Meanwhile, the eight-year-old boy, who is undergoing treatment at a private super-speciality hospital here, is maintaining his vital parameters well on his own without any external support of oxygen or inotropes.

“He continues to tolerate nasogastric feeds well. He had recurrence of intermittent fever spikes for which some investigations have been sent. His neurological condition is static,” the KIMS Cuddles, said in a release.

A 35-year-old woman died and her eight-year-old son was injured on December 4 during a stampede-like situation at the Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad when thousands of fans jostled to have a glimpse of the actor at the premiere of the blockbuster ‘Pushpa 2’.

Following the incident, the city police registered a case against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management under different sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Chikkadpally police station based on the complaint lodged by the victim woman’s family.

Allu Arjun was arrested by the city police in connection with the death of the woman on December 13. The Telangana High Court granted him a four-week interim bail on the same day and he was released from a prison here on December 14 morning. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The “allegations against me are humiliating”, said Telugu superstar Allu Arjun Saturday, adding that a “lot of misinformation” is going around in the Hyderabad stampede case in which a woman died.

“A lot of misinformation is going around. I am not trying to blame anyone, any department or political leader…It is humiliating and feels like character assassination. Please don’t judge me,” said the superstar addressing reporters, adding that he remains “apologetic for what happened”.

The actor’s comment follows Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s claim in the state assembly today that the superstar attended the premiere of his movie ‘Pushpa 2’ at Sandhya Theatre on December 4 even though police permission was denied. The actor’s presence at the event caused a stampede-like situation, said the police, in which a 35-year-old woman died and her eight-year-old son was critically injured.

The Chief Minister claimed that even after the death of the woman, the actor did not leave the cinema hall, prompting the police to force him out.

“Permission was sought from the theatre management. The police cleared the way so I went in. I am a law-abiding citizen. I would have left if I were told that there is no permission,” said the actor.

Before entering the theatre and exiting, claimed the Chief Minister, the actor stood through the sunroof of his car and waved to the crowds leading to thousands of fans jostling to get a glimpse of him.

“It was not a roadshow or procession. I just waved to people and went inside theatre. No policeman approached me to leave. My own manager told me that there is an uncontrollable crowd and asked me to leave,” said the actor countering the Chief Minister’s charge.

Telangana MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi has also claimed that a famous actor, whom he did not name, when told that a woman died in a stampede during ‘Pushpa 2’ premiere said that the “film will now be a hit”.

“I have a child of the same age, wouldn’t I feel the pain. No one is to be blamed,” said the national award-winning actor, who had to spend a night in jail after his arrest in the case earlier this month. He, however, secured a bail within 24 hours.

Defended his government over the arrest of Allu Arjun, the Chief Minister said that there would be “no special privileges” for anyone, adding that protecting the lives of people is the “priority” of the state government.

“I appeal to the top film personalities that they should not be inhuman. There would be no special privileges for anyone involved in incidents like the stampede death. The government would not spare those responsible for troubling the common people. Protecting the lives of the people is the highest priority of my government,” the Chief Minister stressed.
 

Hyderabad:

Telugu actor Allu Arjun’s father and film producer Allu Aravind on Wednesday visited an eight-year-old boy undergoing treatment at a private hospital here after sustaining severe injuries in a stampede during the premiere of Pushpa 2, and assured the family of full support for the child’s recovery.

Addressing reporters, Allu Aravind quoted doctors as saying that while there is progress in Sritej’s recovery, it will be a long process. He also commended the Telangana government for taking responsibility for the boy’s treatment.

Addressing questions from fans and the media about why Allu Arjun had not visited the hospital, Allu Aravind clarified that the actor had intended to visit the boy a day after the tragic incident on December 4. However, hospital authorities had advised against it, citing ongoing legal proceedings.

“Our legal team strongly advised Allu Arjun not to visit the hospital or meet the boy’s parents due to the pending police case,” Allu Aravind explained. “Since he couldn’t go, he felt that I should visit on his behalf.” Allu Aravind expressed gratitude to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, the police, and hospital officials for permitting his visit.

A medical bulletin released by the hospital on Wednesday said Sritej’s neurological condition remains critical, though he is stable and without fever.

“Today, Sritej underwent a tracheostomy tube placement. The procedure was uneventful. He remains afebrile and is maintaining normal vital parameters with low-dose inotropes. However, his neurological status remains unchanged,” the bulletin stated.

Allu Arjun had earlier wished the boy a speedy recovery through a post on X (formerly Twitter), expressing his eagerness to meet the child and his family. “Due to ongoing legal proceedings, I have been advised not to visit them at this time,” the actor wrote.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner C V Anand and State Health Secretary Christina Z Chongthu, who visited the hospital on Tuesday, assured that the government would cover all expenses for the boy’s treatment.

The tragic incident occurred on December 4 during a stampede at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad, where thousands of fans had gathered to see Allu Arjun at the premiere of Pushpa 2. The eight-year-old boy’s 35-year-old mother died in the chaos, while Sritej sustained critical injuries.

Following the incident, Hyderabad Police registered a case against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The case, registered at the Chikkadpally police station, was based on a complaint from the woman’s family.

Allu Arjun was arrested on December 13 but granted interim bail by the Telangana High Court. He was released on the morning of December 14.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)