Telugu filmmaker Tammareddy Bharadwaj has strongly criticized Allu Arjun following the tragic death of a woman in a stampede during the screening of Pushpa 2: The Rule. Bharadwaj blamed the actor for the incident, claiming that his actions have forced the entire film industry to seek intervention from Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR).
“This is truly unfortunate. While mistakes can happen unintentionally, it’s unacceptable to lie to cover them up,” Bharadwaj said, as reported by Free Press Journal. “Every time, the industry has to approach the Chief Minister and beg for support. Why has it come to this? Looking at recent events, it’s clear not only to the industry but also to outsiders.”
Bharadwaj pointed out the growing trend of film stars being treated like deities, with fans idolizing them to the point of chaos. He emphasized that the extravagant behavior of modern-day heroes, including traveling in convoys and holding roadshows, is a primary cause of such incidents. “If heroes simply went to watch a film and returned quietly, without drawing attention, these tragic events wouldn’t happen,” he added.
He also reflected on how senior actors like Chiranjeevi and Nagarjuna conducted themselves. According to Bharadwaj, they would go to theaters without making a spectacle, interacting briefly with fans and leaving discreetly. “Now, social media announces the whereabouts of heroes, often before they arrive. This leads to crowds gathering and creating chaos,” he said.
He concluded by urging actors to remember that they are ordinary human beings like everyone else. “If they did, there wouldn’t be so much chaos surrounding their every move.”
For those unfamiliar with the situation, Allu Arjun is currently facing legal issues in connection with the tragic death of a woman during the Pushpa 2 premiere. The stampede occurred when the actor stepped out of his car to greet fans, leading to a deadly crowd surge. The woman died in the incident, and her son was severely injured and hospitalized.
Allu Arjun was arrested on December 13 and produced in court, where he was remanded to 14-day judicial custody. He was later granted interim bail for four weeks on a personal bond of Rs 50,000, though paperwork delays resulted in him spending one night in jail.
Earlier this week, the Hyderabad police questioned the actor regarding the case. They are reportedly planning to file a petition in court to challenge his interim bail, alleging that Allu Arjun had been asked to leave the theater on December 4 but refused, which contributed to the stampede. The actor has yet to respond to these claims.
