In a tragic and freak coincidence, a second fan of Allu Arjun has died during a screening of his latest blockbuster Pushpa 2: The Rule. The incident, which occurred in Andhra Pradesh, comes less than a week after another fan’s death during the premiere of the same film in Hyderabad. Pushpa 2: Allu Arjun Reacts To Fahadh Faasile Absence From The Promotion; ‘I Really…’
Second Fan Found Dead in Andhra Pradesh
The incident took place during the matinee show of Pushpa 2: The Rule in Rayadurgam, Andhra Pradesh, on Monday. Harijana Madhannappa, a 35-year-old man and father of four, was found dead by theatre cleaning staff around 6 PM. According to Kalyandurgam Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ravi Babu, Madhannappa had attended the film’s 2:30 PM screening in an intoxicated state and continued consuming alcohol inside the theatre.
“It is not clear when he died, but the cleaning staff found him dead at around 6 PM after the matinee show,” DSP Ravi Babu told PTI. The police have registered a case under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act and are currently investigating the exact cause of death.
Premiere Screening in Hyderabad Turns Deadly
Just days earlier, on December 4, another tragic incident occurred during the premiere screening of Pushpa 2: The Rule at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad. The event, attended by Allu Arjun, co-star Rashmika Mandanna, and Arjun’s wife Allu Sneha Reddy, turned chaotic, leading to a stampede that claimed the life of a female fan. Her son was critically injured and remains hospitalised.
Following the incident, police arrested three individuals connected to the Sandhya Theatre: M Sandeep (one of the theatre’s owners), senior manager M Nagaraju, and lower balcony in-charge Gandhakam Vijay Chander. Cases have also been registered against Allu Arjun and his security team under sections 105 and 118(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Apologies and Promises from Allu Arjun
In response to the tragedy, Allu Arjun and director Sukumar addressed the press to express their condolences. They apologized to the victim’s family and assured them of full support, including covering medical expenses and any additional needs.
A Film Marred by Misfortune
While Pushpa 2: The Rule has generated immense excitement among fans, these incidents have cast a shadow over its release. The untimely deaths and the chaos at screenings have raised concerns about crowd management and safety measures at large events.
The police continue to investigate both incidents, aiming to uncover the reasons behind the deaths and prevent further tragedies in the future.