Allu Arjun Clarifies Allegations Amid Comments by CM Revanth Reddy
Tollywood actor Allu Arjun held a press conference today to address recent allegations against him, following the tragic incident at a theatre during the screening of his latest film. The actor expressed profound grief over the loss of a woman named Revathi and extended his condolences to her family, particularly her husband. He also wished a speedy recovery for their son, Sritej, who is undergoing treatment in the hospital.
Speaking about the incident, Allu Arjun said, “The tragedy that occurred was an unfortunate accident. No one is to blame. We, as a team, worked hard to deliver a good film. Theater owners strived to provide the best experience, and the police tried their best to ensure safety. Despite all efforts, this incident happened. Circumstances leading to the tragedy were beyond anyone’s control. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the family for their irreparable loss.”
As an entertainer, the actor highlighted his dedication to ensuring joy for audiences in theatres, emphasizing, “I see theatres as a temple. What happened is deeply painful to me, and I have been monitoring Sritej’s health updates every hour.”
Allu Arjun criticized the spread of misinformation and false accusations, stating, “Many baseless allegations have surfaced. I am not blaming any political leader, government department, or anyone else. Permissions were granted for ticket price adjustments and benefit shows, and we were happy with the government’s support. I am only here to clarify the misinformation and defend my character. After 20 years in the industry, would I act irresponsibly or make such comments?”
The actor explained his actions on the day of the incident, stating that For the past 20 to 30 years, I have been visiting the same theatre—not just for my films but also for movies featuring other actors. The allegation that I acted irresponsibly or went there without permission is completely untrue. We went there only because the theatre management might have obtained the necessary permissions. When we arrived, the police were already managing the crowd, and I proceeded under their direction.
If there had been any issue, the police themselves would have said, 'Sir, you don’t have permission.' However, seeing the police controlling the crowd made me believe everything was in order. There were also allegations about a procession taking place, but I can confirm there was no roadshow or rally. My car stopped a few meters away from the theatre, where there was a massive crowd. People don’t leave until they see the person they came for, so I stepped out to greet them.
The police or bouncers usually say, 'Sir, if you wave at the crowd once, they will leave.' Following this, I stepped out of the car, waved at the crowd, and then went inside the theatre. This is not unusual—whether it’s a political leader or a celebrity, everyone does this. If thousands of people gather for me and I stay inside the car, people would think I’m arrogant. That’s why I stepped out, and greeted the crowd.
Inside the theatre, no police officer spoke to me or informed me about any issues. The theatre management approached me and said, 'Sir, the crowd outside is too large, and it’s becoming difficult for the police to control them. It would be better if you left.' Following their suggestion, I left the theatre shortly after the movie began and returned home.
I only came to know the next day about the stampede that led to a woman’s death and her child being hospitalized. I was deeply shocked. My children were sitting right next to me in the theatre that day. If I had known about the stampede and a woman’s death, would I have left my children behind and gone alone? I left the theatre solely because I was informed that the crowd was becoming unmanageable.
On why he did not visit the victim’s family immediately, he said, “I was prepared to visit the family, but my team advised against it, fearing that my presence might escalate emotions. Bunny Vasu visited the family on my behalf and suggested I meet them later. Legal counsel also advised waiting until after the funeral rites were completed.”
The actor also emphasized his emotional turmoil, revealing that he has cancelled all celebrations for his movie’s success. He said, “I spoke to Sukumar and Mythri Movie Makers about creating a significant financial arrangement for Sritej. We are also considering hiring a physiotherapist for him. As a father myself, I understand the pain of this loss. This tragedy is deeply unfortunate.”
Allu Arjun concluded by urging everyone to avoid blame games and focus on supporting the affected family, reiterating his grief over the incident.