Telangana CM meets film industry leaders amid tensions over 'Pushpa 2' stampede tragedy; urges celebrities to take an active role in anti-drug campaigns and promoting education

Big producers and actors, including Allu Aravind, father of superstar Allu Arjun, met with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on December 26, 2024. This meeting comes after the tragic stampede during the screening of 'Pushpa 2: The Rule', which resulted in the death of a woman named Revathi and left her son critically injured.

During the meeting, CM Revanth Reddy said that maintaining law and order is a shared responsibility between celebrities and law enforcement. He warned that celebrities must work closely with police to ensure crowd control at public events. This statement came after police reports indicated that bouncers employed by Allu Arjun acted recklessly during the incident, contributing to the chaos. He also urged celebrities to take an active role in social issues, particularly in anti-drug campaigns and promoting education.

The meeting aimed to improve relations between the film industry and the government, as tensions have escalated following Allu Arjun's arrest related to the incident. The chief minister has been vocal about his disappointment with celebrities who gathered at Allu Arjun's residence after his release from jail, criticizing them for not considering the victims of the stampede.

Among those present at the meeting were prominent figures such as producers Dil Raju, Suresh Daggubati, and directors Trivikram Srinivas and Harish Shankar. Actors Venkatesh Daggubati, Nithiin, Varun Tej, and others also participated in discussions to address the ongoing issues between the government and the film fraternity.

The Telangana government has recently announced that it will no longer approve special benefit shows for films and may restrict ticket price hikes to specific categories of films that focus on historical events or social issues.

This decision could significantly impact upcoming releases during the Sankranti festival, including high-budget films like Ram Charan's 'Game Changer', Nandamuri Balakrishna's 'Daaku Maharaj', and Venkatesh's 'Sankranthiki Vasthunnam'. Producers often rely on these price hikes to maximize profits during opening weekends.