Tollywood superstar Allu Arjun has been accused of insensitivity following the death of a woman in a stampede during the benefit show of his film Pushpa 2: The Rule at Sandhya Theatre on December 4.
According to All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) floor leader in the Telangana Assembly, Akbaruddin Owaisi, the actor allegedly remarked, “The film will be a hit now,” upon learning about the tragedy.
Addressing the Assembly, Owaisi said, “I do not want to take the name of that famous film star because I do not want to give him that importance. According to my information, this film star went to the theatre to watch the movie. Amid the commotion, the police informed him about the stampede in which two children fell, and a woman lost her life. The star reportedly smiled and said that the movie is going to be a hit now.”
Owaisi alleged that despite the tragic incident, the actor continued watching the movie without showing concern for the victims.
“Even after that, he sat there and watched the entire film. Later, he got up, waved to the crowd, sat in his car, and left, showing no regard for the stampede or its aftermath,” the AIMIM leader added.
Criticizing the actor’s lack of empathy, Owaisi said, “This film star appears to send a message that the government is committing oppression, but where is his humanity?”
Drawing from his own experience, Owaisi cited the large political rallies he conducts, emphasizing his efforts to ensure crowd safety.
“I also hold public meetings attended by thousands of people. I make sure there is no stampede, Sir. I ensure my security does not push or hurt anyone. Even during the Maharashtra election, with lakhs of people in attendance, I ensured everyone’s safety,” he stated.
The remarks have sparked debates about crowd management at high-profile events and the responsibilities of public figures during such incidents.