Veteran Telugu producer and director Tammareddy Bharadwaj has criticised superstar Allu Arjun, days after he was arrested in connection with the stampede which took place outside Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre. One woman was killed in the stampede and his eight-year-old son suffered serious injuries.
On Friday, Bharadwaj said that because of the ego and mistake of one person (Allu Arjun), the entire Telugu film industry is forced to bow down before Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
Tammareddy Bharadwaj lashes out at Allu Arjun
According to media reports, Bharadwaj said, “This is unfortunate. While mistakes can happen unknowingly, it is unacceptable to knowingly lie to cover them up… Every time, the industry has to approach the Chief Minister and stand with folded hands. But why has it come to this? Observing recent incidents gives clarity not just to those in the industry but also to outsiders.”
Referring to the stampede, he added, “Fans consider film stars as Gods, and heroes are increasingly behaving as though they must travel in convoys and hold roadshows wherever they go. This has become a trend in recent times. However, if they quietly go to watch a film and return without much fuss, such incidents wouldn’t occur.
“Earlier, heroes didn’t behave like this. Legendary stars like Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Venkatesh, and Nagarjuna have often watched films with their fans. Yet, they did so discreetly—they would go to a multiplex, watch the movie, and return after briefly interacting with fans present at the venue. If they had to visit a single-screen theater, they would do silently, without announcing it. But now, social media reveals when and where a hero will be, even before they arrive. This leads to massive crowds gathering to see them, resulting in chaotic situations,” he explained.
Bharadwaj further said that celebrities need to think not only about their fans but also about the well-being of the general public. He stated that they must realise that their performances should make Telugu cinema a matter of pride, not just their box office collections.
“If heroes remember that they are ordinary humans like everyone else, there wouldn’t be so much chaos surrounding their activities,” he stated bluntly.
CM Reddy’s meeting with film celebs
Since the past few days, the stampede during the premieres of Pushpa 2: The Rule and the subsequent developments have become a hot topic in Tollywood and on social media. Recently, CM Reddy met top Telugu film personalities to discuss the matter.
The CM assured that the government stands with the Telugu film industry. Reportedly, in the meeting, he asserted that there will be no compromise on law and order. He also said that celebrities must control their fans and the industry must be responsible.
Allu Arjun’s arrest
Allu Arjun was booked in the stampede case, and he was arrested on December 13. The actor managed to secure bail on the same day, and he walked out free the next day after spending a night in jail.
The actor has promised to look after the medical expenses of the minor who is undergoing treatment at the hospital, and his father, Allu Aravind, also announced financial support of Rs 2 crore for the injured child. The stampede took place on December 4.
