The December 4 stampede at Hyderabad's Sandhya Theatre during the screening of "Pushpa 2: The Rule" claimed the life of a female fan and left her son critically injured. In response, Allu Arjun announced a ₹25 lakh donation to the deceased woman's family, pledging not only to cover their medical expenses but also to assist the children with their future needs to the best of his ability.

Arjun shared a 3-minute-47-second video addressing the heartbreaking incident at Sandhya Theatre. In his message, he expressed deep sorrow, writing, "Devastated by the tragic loss at Sandhya Theatre. My heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved family during this time of grief. I assure them they are not alone in this pain and will personally meet the family. While respecting their privacy to mourn, I remain committed to providing every possible support to help them through this challenging period."

In the video, speaking in Telugu, Arjun explained that the overwhelming crowd at the theatre was "unexpected" and revealed that he only learned about the fan's death the following morning. 

He shared, "During our recent visit to the 'Pushpa' premiere at RTC Crossroads, an unexpectedly large crowd had gathered. It was only the next morning that we came to know a family was injured in the chaos, and sadly, a mother of two, Revathi, lost her life."

Arjun further shared that he, director Sukumar, and the entire Pushpa team were left "shocked" upon hearing the tragic news. 

He remarked, "In the past 20 years, I've visited theatres for almost every film, and nothing like this has ever occurred. We are deeply disappointed and shaken, none of us feel like celebrating. We create films to bring joy to audiences in theatres, and to hear that such an incident happened…I'm at a loss for words."

"No words or actions can ever make up for the loss. However, we want to extend our emotional support to you in any way possible. As a gesture of solidarity, I am donating ₹25 lakh to the family, with a focus on the children's well-being. We will also take care of all medical expenses and stand by the family during this difficult time," the actor expressed. 

Arjun concluded the video with a heartfelt appeal to his fans, urging them to prioritise safety. "We create movies for you to enjoy with your families. When incidents like this occur, it deeply affects us as well. I sincerely request fans to be cautious and ensure they return home safely after visiting theatres," he urged.

The tragic incident occurred when a woman lost her life and her son was hospitalised due to asphyxiation as crowds surged at a film theatre in Hyderabad during the premiere of Allu Arjun's "Pushpa 2: The Rule," police informed PTI on Thursday.

A case has been filed against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management in connection with the tragic death of the woman. The Chikkadpally police station registered the case under Sections 105 and 118(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on a complaint from the deceased's family. Meanwhile, the woman's son, who suffered severe injuries during the stampede, remains in critical condition.

The film's producers, Mythri Movie Makers, along with actress Rashmika Mandanna, expressed their deep sorrow upon hearing the news. 

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Arjun's team clarified that producer Bunny Vas had already reached out to the family and extended financial assistance on the actor's behalf. Following the incident, Telangana's cinematography minister, Komatireddy Venkata Reddy, announced a ban on benefit shows in the state.