'Pushpa 2' stampede row: Here's how celebs reacted after Allu Arjun’s release

Actor Allu Arjun was released on bail on Saturday following his arrest in connection with the stampede, which resulted in the death of a woman and left her nine-year-old son critically injured, at Hyderabad’s Sandhya theatre during the premiere of his film, Pushpa 2: The Rule.

Following this, celebrities from across the film industry have shared their thoughts on social media. Here’s a look at who said what.

Rashmika Mandanna

Rashmika Mandanna, co-star of Allu Arjun in the Pushpa franchise, expressed her disappointment on social media, saying, “I can’t believe what I am seeing right now..”

In her post, Rashmika described the stampede that led to the woman’s death as an unfortunate and deeply saddening incident. However, she also said it was “unbelievable and heartbreaking” to see Allu Arjun being blamed for it.

Sreeleela

Sreeleela, who was in Visakhapatnam for the launch of a shopping mall on Saturday, December 14, 2024, said Allu Arjun's arrest was ‘very unfortunate’ and expressed relief that he was released. “I’m glad that at least now he’s back outside. Everyone was so worried for him yesterday…about what’s happening,” she said.

The Pushpa 2: The Rule co-star, who appeared alongside Arjun in the song, Kissik, added, “He’s the kind of person who always does the right thing. It’s because he respects the law that he followed all the rules and did everything he should as a citizen.”

Samantha Ruth Prabhu

A video that went viral on social media on Saturday morning shows Allu Arjun returning to his Jubilee Hills residence after being granted bail. In the footage, his brother, Allu Sirish, rushes to embrace him, followed by his son Ayaan. A deeply emotional moment unfolds when his wife, Allu Sneha Reddy, holds him close and kisses him, visibly breaking down.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu shared the video on her Instagram stories, writing, “I am not crying, okay!” along with teary-eyed emojis, and tagged Allu Arjun and Sneha Reddy with heart and sparkle emojis.

Vignesh Shivan

Following his release, Vignesh Shivan shared a video on his Instagram stories with the caption, “Waited to only see this! With heartfelt condolences to the family. Very very unfortunate to go through this @alluarjunonline sir, but the way he handled this was very mature and dignified.” He posted heart, folded hands, and trophy emojis while tagging Allu Arjun in the story.

Nani

Nani shared his thoughts, criticising the government and media for their ‘enthusiasm’ when it comes to issues involving celebrities. He wrote, “I wish the kind of enthusiasm government authorities and media show in anything related to people from cinema was also there for the regular citizens. We would live in a better society.”

He then emphasised that the death should serve as a learning lesson for everyone, stating, “That was an unfortunate incident and it was heartbreaking.. We should all learn from the disaster, be more careful going forward, and introduce measures to ensure this doesn’t happen again. We are all at fault here. One person is not responsible for this.”

Vivek Oberoi

Vivek Oberoi shared a detailed note, voicing his support for Allu Arjun, recalling his long-standing association with the actor’s family. He wrote, “While any loss of life is painful and should be avoided, is it fair to arrest Allu Arjun for this mishap? We all love our fans dearly. I’ve known Allu and his wonderful family for decades. They are law-abiding citizens who have always been patriotic and socially responsible. I personally know what a wonderful human being Allu is, and I’m sure he was deeply saddened by the tragic news.”

He also questioned whether political leaders would face similar consequences if such an incident occurred during a campaign rally. Vivek advocated for finding a ‘permanent solution to avoid such pain’ and concluded his note with, “Bunny, we know and love you for the gentleman you are off-screen, my brother. Praying for you and for the life lost.”

Varun Dhawan

Varun Dhawan addressed Allu Arjun’s arrest during a promotional event for his upcoming movie Baby John. Responding to reporters, he remarked, “Safety protocols are not something that an actor can handle on their own. We can only tell the people around us.”

Citing the example of Cinepolis, Dhawan appreciated the theatre chain for ensuring proper arrangements for the event. “We are grateful to them for that. The incident that occurred is very painful. I feel deeply sorry and extend my condolences. But at the same time, you can’t place blame on one person for this,” he added.

Nithiin

Actor Nithiin described the incident as ‘heartbreaking’ and urged reflection on how to prevent such tragedies in the future. He emphasised that the focus should not be on finding fault but on taking collective responsibility to ensure a safer and better environment moving forward.

Khushbu Sundar

Khushbu Sundar voiced her support for Allu Arjun, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to criticise those she accused of playing ‘egos, insecurities, and power games’ to conceal their own shortcomings. Referring to Allu Arjun as ‘dearest Bunny,’ she expressed confidence in his resilience, stating, “Nothing can hold you back.”

Several others also reacted to the arrest, extending their support to Allu Arjun, including celebrities like Sonu Sood, Ravi Kishan, Ram Gopal Varma, Sharwanand, Sundeep Kishan, Adivi Sesh, Anil Ravipudi, Ajay Bhupathi, Gopichand Malineni, Rahul Ramakrishna, and more, conveying their support through statements and social media. 

While most of them expressed their reactions through social media or to the press, a few chose to extend their support to Allu Arjun in person. His uncle Chiranjeevi and his brother Naga Babu were among the first to meet Allu. Director Sukumar, who helms the Pushpa franchise, also made a personal visit to check on the actor.

Actors like Vijay Deverakonda, rumoured to play the antagonist in Pushpa 3: The Rampage, and his brother Anand Deverakonda were seen at Allu Arjun’s home following his release. Rana Daggubati, Naga Chaitanya, Chiranjeevi’s wife Surekha, and several others were also spotted at Arjun’s residence.

Jr NTR, who is currently shooting in Mumbai for War 2, reportedly called Allu Arjun to convey his support, as he was unable to visit in person due to his commitments. Similarly, Nandamuri Balakrishna reportedly called Allu Arjun following the incident and had a lengthy conversation with the actor.