In Allu Arjun’s bail hearing, court recalls stampede during SRK-starrer Raees’ release
Theatre releases note saying it had sought prior permission for the actor’s visit, police say it was denied
With the Hyderabad Police and the Telangana government coming under flak for the arrest of actor Allu Arjun, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy Friday said that he would issue a statement after ascertaining what had happened. He was responding to queries from media persons outside the Parliament in the evening.
Hyderabad Police, especially officials from Chikkadpally police station and Chikkadpally division, came under flak throughout the day for the way they took Arjun into custody, allegedly following him to his bedroom.
The police are also being asked questions about their handling of the crowd on the night of December 4, when the premiere of Pushpa 2 at Sandhya Theatre ended in a stampede that killed a woman and left her son critical.
While the police have blamed the management of Sandhya Theatre for not informing them in advance, the management has released a purported copy of a request letter they had submitted to the Assistant Commissioner of Police of Chikkadpally division, informing about the actor’s visit to attend the premiere and seeking police bandobast on December 4.
The theatre owners claimed they had informed the police two days before the premiere and sought police bandobast. The letter, supposedly from December 2 reads: “We request you to arrange to provide police bandobast at Sandhya 70 MM in connection with the release of Pushpa 2 on December 4 because there will be a heavy fans crowd. This statement made by police officials: the movie comes with the hero, heroine, VIPs and unit of production to watch. Now, as per police people claims, ACP’s office responded back to the theater questioning not to invite Arjun and other actors, the case will lead to law and order situation.
“Allu Arjun also took out a short road show near the theatre for which there was no permission,” an official claims.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner of Police Akshansh Yadav said no intimation had been made by the theatre management or the actor’s team that they would be visiting. “The theatre management did not make any additional provisions regarding security to manage the crowd nor was there any separate entry or exit for the actor’s team,” he said.
The police also targeted the actor’s security staff for reportedly pushing people around, making matters worse as there were thousands already in the theatre.
Based on letters exchanged between management of Sandhya Theatre and ACP Chikkdapally, Nampally court sent Arjun to 14-day judicial custody, although Telangana High Court granted him four weeks interim bail.
Allu Arjun is an Indian actor with majority of his work in Telugu cinema and born April 8, 1982. He gained fame from other notable films like Arya in 2004 to more recent ones such as Pushpa: The Rise, 2021, just before he was jailed after a stampede where his associate killed a woman during the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule while her son was hospitalized. He has been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder due to negligence on the part of crowd control measures1236. After his arrest, he has been sent for 14 days of judicial custody.
What does this incident have to say about Allu Arjun’s career?
Allu Arjun’s career is under the public spotlight since he was arrested in connection with a deadly stampede that occurred on the day of the Pushpa 2: The Rule premiere that killed one woman. Still, Pushpa 2 is still going great at the box office, and Arjun’s status as a leading star is confirmed. However, the legal consequences and public opinion after his arrest may impact his future projects and reputation in the industry. He has promised to support the victim’s family, which means he is committed to addressing the consequences of this tragedy.
#How is the box office of Pushpa 2 performing with this incident?
Pushpa 2: The Rule has continued to do well at the box office even after Allu Arjun’s arrest. The film minted over ₹1,000 crore in one week at the global box office and also happens to be considered as the highest grosser from Indian films in the year 2024. It minted an approximate ₹30-35 crores on its ninth day and advance bookings were hard so it indicated that people in the audience still held some interest in it 123. The incident may have marred the success of the film, but trade analysts feel that it would hardly make a dent in its box office run, as the film is doing well, and Arjun has a huge fan following.
#How is the Hindi version of Pushpa 2 performing compared to the Telugu version?
The Hindi version of Pushpa 2: The Rule is grossing much more than the Telugu version at the box office. Hindi version minted around ₹425.6 crore till day eight, nearly double the ₹241.9 crore minted by the Telugu version till day eight35. Hindi version minted ₹65 crore on day two alone against ₹32 crore by Telugu1. In all key markets such as Mumbai, the Hindi version has outperformed Telugu collections and there is a shift in audience response2. This trend has reflected the mass appeal of the film cutting across linguistic sections in India.
#How did the public react to Allu Arjun’s arrest in Hyderabad?
Public reaction to Allu Arjun’s arrest has been polarized. While many fans gathered outside the Chikkadapally police station in Hyderabad to show support, others expressed confusion and concern over the arrest, questioning the accountability of the police and theatre management for crowd control. Some celebrities, like Rashmika Mandanna and Raza Murad, defended Arjun, emphasizing that he should not be solely blamed for the incident. Conversely, a segment of the public speculated whether the arrest was a publicity stunt for Pushpa 2, reflecting a mix of skepticism and support within social media discussions.
#How did fans of other celebrities react to Allu Arjun’s arrest.
Most of the fans of other celebrities supported Allu Arjun after his arrest. Many celebrities, such as Vivek Oberoi and Ram Gopal Varma, questioned whether it was fair to hold Arjun responsible for the stampede tragedy, since crowd control was usually the event organizers’ and police’s responsibility. Co-star Rashmika Mandanna couldn’t believe the situation; she said it was pathetic to blame one person for the incident. Many fans took to social media, terming the arrest “ridiculous,” and stating that this was an unfair punishment because the star was being singled out for an unfortunate incident he could not have controlled.
#Were there any notable statements from other celebrities’ fans on the arrest of Allu Arjun?
Fans of most other celebrities have rallied to support Allu Arjun after his arrest. Rashmika Mandanna expressed her disbelief on social media, stating it was disheartening to blame one individual for the incident. Actor Nani emphasized that the tragedy was not solely Arjun’s fault, advocating for shared responsibility among event organizers and authorities. Varun Dhawan also defended Arjun, highlighting that safety protocols should prevent such incidents. Also, some fans considered the arrest as unfair, implying that if a similar incidence were to happen at a cricket match, a player such as Virat Kohli would not have faced the same embarrassment.
#How did social media influence the public’s response to the Allu Arjun arrest?
Social media greatly determined the reaction of the people towards the arrest of Allu Arjun. Fans were outraged and in solidarity, trending hashtags like #AlluArjunArrest and #JusticeForAlluArjun, criticizing the authorities for their handling of the situation and demanding his release1. Users questioned the rationale behind the arrest, emphasizing that crowd control should be the responsibility of the police, not the actor2. Other rumors suggested the arrest was a publicity stunt for Pushpa 2, and this sparked massive online debates over the intent of the arrest23. Ultimately, social media gave equal volume to both pro and anti-views regarding Arjun’s legal troubles.
READ ALSO: 15 Best places in Europe for a perfect family trip
READ ALSO: Top 15 best things to do in Seattle (2024)
#To what extent did the police’s handling of the case change following the social media backlash?
The police’s defense came in the form of reaction to the social media backlash surrounding the arrest of Allu Arjun. They clearly pointed an accusing finger at the gestures Arjun made, stating that enough arrangements had been made before the program that would have prevented all this from happening. By putting the blame on crowd management on the shoulders of the event organizers, the police said they did not do their job well. This is a strategy to protect their credibility and legitimacy from the negative opinions of the public and try to deflect the criticism to the way they have handled the situation.
#What measures did the police take to address the adverse social media reactions?
The police adopted the following measures to address adverse social media reactions after the arrest of Allu Arjun:
Public Declarations: They issued statements to clarify that the event organizers were solely responsible for crowd control and shifted the blame from their own action.
Monitoring and Response: The police monitored social media, tracking negative comments and responding in a timely manner to assuage concerns. They displayed their commitment to transparency and accountability.
Engagement: They engaged with the public by acknowledging the criticism and giving factual information about the case, which helped rebuild trust and mitigate backlash.
These are strategies that manage public opinion and maintain credibility in the face of widespread criticism.
#Did they collaborate with other agencies or experts to manage social media backlash?
The search results do not explicitly state whether the police partnered with other agencies or experts to counter social media backlash in Allu Arjun’s case. In fact, they show the reason why police engagement on social media is indispensable in combating misinformation and holding public trust. Police departments frequently engage in practices like social media monitoring for public opinion and addressing public issues to effectively control their image and address the concerns of the community. This gives a potential framework on how they may handle backlash situations, but in this case, no particular collaborations are explained.