Telangana Prohibits Actor Visits to Theatres and Benefit Showings
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Hyderabad, Dec 21 (NationPress) Following a tragic stampede during the premiere of Pushpa 2 at a local theatre in Hyderabad, the Telangana government has taken a decisive stance by banning actor visits to theatres and benefit shows ahead of movie launches.
During the Assembly session, Minister for Cinematography Komatireddy Venkat Reddy made this significant announcement, while also confirming that the government will maintain its special incentives aimed at promoting the film industry.
Furthermore, he stated that there would be no increase in cinema ticket prices.
The state has previously allowed ticket prices to rise for high-budget films featuring prominent stars, including the recent allowance for Pushpa 2: The Rule.
This decision followed a statement from Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy regarding the December 4 incident at Sandhya Theatre, which resulted in a woman’s death and injuries to her son.
Minister Venkat Reddy also mentioned that actor Allu Arjun had not honored his promise to provide a Rs 25 lakh compensation to the victim's family.
He expressed his intention to personally contribute Rs 25 lakh to the family through the Prateek Foundation. Following this, he visited KIMS Hospital, where eight-year-old Sri Teja is receiving treatment, and handed a cheque for Rs 25 lakh to his father, Bhaskar.
The minister assured that the government would cover the medical expenses for Sri Teja, who remains in critical condition, and promised the family that all possible measures would be taken to ensure the boy's recovery.
He further noted that neither the film's lead actor nor any member of the production team had approached the family or visited the injured child.
He assured the Assembly that measures would be implemented to avert such incidents in the future.
After his hospital visit, the minister indicated that the government would evaluate requests for increasing cinema ticket prices and make decisions on a case-by-case basis.
Earlier in the Assembly, the Chief Minister criticized actor Allu Arjun for attending the theatre despite police refusing permission, and for initiating a 'roadshow' on his way to the event. He claimed that Arjun only left after a Deputy Commissioner of Police threatened arrest.
The Chief Minister condemned the film industry figures who rushed to Allu Arjun’s residence after his release from jail, contrasting their lack of support for the deceased's family or the injured boy.
