Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday, 23 September 2026 responded to actor Nani's public request for permission to attend the premiere of his film 'The Paradise' at a theatre on RTC X Roads, Hyderabad — directing the actor to submit a formal application to the local police station for crowd-safety clearance.

What the Chief Minister Said

In a post on X, Revanth Reddy said he appreciated Nani's 'respect for safety guidelines' and his 'commitment to the film directed by our talented young Telangana director, Srikanth Odela.' The Chief Minister added: 'To ensure seamless crowd management and public safety, please submit an official application to the designated local police station. The concerned team will review the application and take a decision accordingly.'

The response signals that while the state government is not opposed in principle, it will follow a formal clearance process rather than grant ad hoc permission for a high-profile public gathering at the same location that witnessed a deadly stampede less than a year ago.

Nani's Original Request

The actor had posted an appeal on X addressed to Revanth Reddy, Minister of Cinematography Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, and the Telangana Police. In his post, Nani described himself as a lifelong cinema lover for whom RTC X Roads holds a 'special place' as a theatre-going experience. 'I would love to visit a theatre at RTC X Roads for 'The Paradise' premiere show (23rd September) and experience the film with our audience, the very people we made it for,' he wrote, adding that all 'necessary protocols and safety guidelines' would be followed.

The appeal drew attention partly because of its sentiment — framing the request as that of 'a fan of cinema' — but also because of the backdrop against which it was made.

The Pushpa 2 Stampede Shadow

The exchange comes amid heightened scrutiny of premiere shows and film-related public events in Telangana following the December 2024 stampede at Sandhya Theatre on RTC X Roads during the premiere of 'Pushpa 2: The Rule'. The incident claimed the life of a woman and left her son critically injured.

Actor Allu Arjun, theatre management, and others were subsequently booked in connection with the case. Police later filed a charge sheet against 23 accused. Authorities tightened norms governing permissions for movie premieres and promotional events, making crowd-safety assessments a key requirement for all high-profile film gatherings in the state.

Why This Matters

The RTC X Roads theatre belt is one of Hyderabad's most iconic cinema destinations, attracting large and passionate crowds for major Telugu film releases. Permitting a star of Nani's stature to attend a premiere at the same location where the Pushpa 2 stampede occurred is a politically and publicly sensitive decision. Authorities are clearly unwilling to bypass formal safety protocols, regardless of the goodwill surrounding the request.

Notably, this is the first such high-visibility request from a film star at this location since the Pushpa 2 tragedy — making the state's response a template for how future premiere permissions at sensitive venues are likely to be handled.

What Happens Next

Whether Nani submits the formal application and whether the police clear it in time for the same-day premiere remains to be seen. 'The Paradise', directed by Srikanth Odela, is scheduled to premiere on 23 September. The police's decision, once made, could set a precedent for handling similar requests at high-footfall cinema venues across Telangana going forward.