On December 4, a tragic stampede at Hyderabad's Sandhya Theatre during the screening of Pushpa 2: The Rise resulted in the death of a 35-year-old mother, Revathi, and left her eight-year-old son, Sri Tej, critically injured. Footage from the scene captures the confusion and chaos as a crowd surged through a doorway, tearing metal gates from their hinges and littering the ground with plastic bottles and paper. The stampede reportedly followed the announcement that actor Allu Arjun would be arriving at the theatre, despite police denying permission for the event. As fans rushed to the venue, the crush resulted in the fatal tragedy.

In the aftermath, Allu Arjun was arrested and sent to judicial custody, only to be granted interim bail by the Telangana High Court. The actor has been summoned for questioning about his involvement in the incident, including whether he knew of the denied police permission and his role in the events leading to the stampede. Public opinion has been divided, with some criticizing the actor, while others rally in support. Protests erupted outside Arjun's home, with demonstrators vandalizing his property and throwing tomatoes.

The police investigation continues as Allu Arjun faces serious charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, along with the theatre’s owner and other officials. The controversy has sparked a wider debate over responsibility and safety during large public events.