Pushpa 2: The Rule mired in controversies

While the film made record collections in some areas on its opening day with hiked ticket prices, it has been making headlines more for its controversies than its success.
Allu Arjun and director Sukumar’s much-anticipated film, Pushpa 2: The Rule, released on Thursday. With inflated ticket prices, the makers anticipated huge box-office numbers on the first day. However, to everyone’s surprise, the film found itself embroiled in controversies. Many fans criticised the high ticket prices, especially since Allu Arjun had often claimed his fans are his greatest strength. This hike led to lower audience turnout in several top centers. From the second day onward, bookings began to drop significantly in major cities, delivering an unexpected shock to the makers.
One of the major controversies is a tragic incident at Sandhya Theatre, RTC Cross Roads in Hyderabad, where a stampede occurred during a screening of the film attended by Allu Arjun and some team members. A woman lost her life and her son being hospitalised. Initially, neither Allu Arjun nor the filmmakers issued a statement regarding the incident. However, after mounting criticism, they released an official statement. Meanwhile, a case has been filed against Allu Arjun, the movie’s makers and the theatre management.
The makers had planned to hold a press conference on Friday but cancelled it at the last moment without providing an explanation. It is speculated that they are avoiding media interactions amidst the ongoing controversies.
Another controversy arose even before the film’s release when reports surfaced that music director Devi Sri Prasad was unable to deliver the background score on time. Consequently, the team brought in Sam CS, Ajaneesh and SS Thaman for the background score. Despite their contributions, only Sam CS was credited in the title cards, while Ajaneesh’s name appeared in the thank-you cards. Thaman’s name was omitted entirely, sparking criticism online for the lack of acknowledgment.
Additionally, certain dialogues in the film have caused a stir on social media. A specific line, reportedly aimed at industry veteran Chiranjeevi—often referred to as “Boss”—has drawn significant backlash. The dialogue, “Evadra Boss? Evadikira Boss? Aadi ki aadi kodukku, aadi tammudu ki, kooda nene Boss” (“Who is the Boss, and for whom? I am the Boss for him, his son, and his brother”), is being widely discussed and criticised for its implications.
Meanwhile, Allu Arjun’s visit to Nandyal has also sparked controversy. Despite defending the visit on multiple occasions, many Mega Fans (Chiranjeevi’s fanbase) have turned against him, with reports suggesting they are actively campaigning against the film. With high ticket prices, average reviews and fan backlash, the burning question is whether the film can recover and turn a profit, or if it will face losses like the first installment. Only time will reveal how audiences will respond in the coming days.