NEW DELHI: Telangana Congress MLA R Bhoopathi Reddy issued a stern warning to actor Allu Arjun, cautioning him against making critical remarks about chief minister Revanth Reddy.
The MLA from Nizamabad (Rural) on Tuesday threatened that the actor’s films might be boycotted in the state if he continued his comments. “If you (Allu Arjun) talk about our chief minister, be cautious. You are from Andhra. You came here to live,” Bhoopathi Reddy said. “What is your contribution to Telangana? We are issuing a 100 per cent warning. If you don’t mend your ways, we will not let your films run in Telangana,” he added.
The MLA also criticised Allu Arjun’s blockbuster Pushpa, labelling it “a smuggler’s story” that lacked societal benefit. He further highlighted Congress’ historical support for the film industry, citing how past governments had provided land in Hyderabad to bolster its development.
The remarks follow escalating tensions between Allu Arjun and chief minister Revanth Reddy after a tragic incident during the December 4 screening of Pushpa 2: The Rule at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre. A stampede at the venue led to the death of a 35-year-old woman, Revathi, and left her eight-year-old son, Sri Tej, hospitalised in critical condition.
Chief minister Revanth Reddy lashed out at the actor during an assembly session, accusing Allu Arjun and his production team of being “inhuman” towards the victim’s family. The CM questioned whether film stars or political figures enjoyed immunity from prosecution, vowing that the government would hold those responsible for the incident accountable.
“Allu Arjun was denied permission for the visit by the police, yet he went ahead. As long as I am in office, my primary responsibility is to protect the lives of people,” the chief minister said.
Also read: ‘Inhuman’: CM A Revanth Reddy slams Allu Arjun
In response, Allu Arjun refuted the accusations, describing them as “character assassination.” At a press conference on December 21, the actor termed the incident a “pure accident” and expressed his condolences to the victim’s family. “I am taking hourly updates on the child’s condition, and it is improving, which is very good,” he said.
Rejecting claims of organising a roadshow or procession, the actor said, “There is a lot of misinformation and false allegations. I don’t want to blame any department or politician. My character is being assassinated.”
Also read: ‘Character assassination’: Actor Allu Arjun on stampede row after CM Revanth Reddy’s criticism
Following the stampede, the police registered a case against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management after a complaint from the deceased woman’s family. The actor, arrested on December 13, was granted interim bail by the Telangana high court and released the following day.