Veteran filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma believes that South Indian superstar Allu Arjun’s recent arrest after ‘Pushpa 2’ release was a publicity stunt to boost the film’s box office collections.
For those who missed it, Allu Arjun was arrested by the Chikkadapally police in Hyderabad on Friday and sent to 14-day judicial custody in connection to a tragic stampede at the film’s screening in Sandhya Theatre, which resulted in the death of a woman named Revathi and serious injuries to her nine-year-old son, Sri Tej.
The incident occurred when Allu Arjun made a surprise visit to the event, causing a massive crowd of fans to gather. The stampede-like situation led to Revathi losing consciousness and being declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.
Arjun was released on a four-week interim bail by the Telangana High Court on Saturday.
Reacting to the news, Ram Gopal Varma took to his official X handle, claiming, “Regarding everybody’s SURPRISE SHOCK about why the Honourable chief minister of TELANGANA @revanth_anumala did this to @alluarjun, I think it is because he wanted to give a BIG PUBLICITY BOOST to the Telangana state’s FAVOURITE SON for a HUGE RISE in #Pushpa2‘s week 2‘s collections.”
He continued, “This explains why the STATE did such a deliberately weak PROSECUTION so that he could be BAILED OUT in a few hours and become even more MEGA POPULAR to RULE the BOX OFFICE for a LOOONG LOOOOONGGG TIME.”
Varma concluded by thanking the chief minister, “Thank you shri @revanth_anumula garu, for holding the TELANGANA STATE’S PRIDE as SUPER HIGH as #Pushpa2‘s SUPER COLLECTIONS.”
CM Reddy has denied state government involvement in Arjun’s arrest, stating that the law is taking its course. “He’s a film, it’s his business to make a movie and earn money, what does that have to do with us? Did he fight any India-Pakistan war at the border and win for India? He made a movie, it’s minting money, that’s all there is to it,” he said.
As for the action sequel, ‘Pushpa 2’ features Allu Arjun in the titular role of Pushpa Raj, with Fahadh Faasil as the main antagonist SP Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat, and Rashmika Mandanna reprising her role as Srivalli. The film has grossed INR 1300 crores in worldwide ticket sales over the first 10 days of release.