Telugu Film Body vs Chief Minister: Key Meeting Scheduled After Pushpa 2 Stampede Incident

Representatives from the Telugu film industry are set to meet Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, following tensions between the state government and the film fraternity in the wake of the Pushpa 2 screening stampede that resulted in a woman’s death. Actor Allu Arjun’s involvement in the incident and his subsequent arrest have added to the strained relations. Among the first to arrive at Hyderabad’s Command Control Centre were actor Nagarjuna, and producers Allu Arvind and C. Kalyan. On Wednesday, Telangana State Film Development Corporation (FDC) chairman and prominent producer Dil Raju stated that the delegation aims to promote “healthy relations” between the government and the industry.

Following a stampede at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre on December 4 during the screening of Pushpa: The Rule, actor Allu Arjun was arrested on December 13. He was released on bail the next day, with police alleging that the actor had organized a roadshow at the theatre without prior authorization.

The upcoming meeting comes after Telangana’s Cinematography Minister Komatireddi Venkat Reddy suggested that the state government may consider ticket price hikes for select films, particularly those with themes related to history, the freedom struggle, or anti-drug messages. This could potentially affect upcoming releases such as Ram Charan’s Game Changer, Nandamuri Balakrishna’s Daaku Maharaj, and Venkatesh’s Sankranthiki Vasthunnam.

Allu Arjun has denied the allegations of organizing a “roadshow,” calling the incident purely accidental. He has also expressed his continued support for the victim’s family. The woman’s son, Sri Tej, who was injured in the stampede, was removed from the ventilator on Monday.