Hyderabad: The tragic stampede-like incident that occurred during a special screening of Pushpa 2 in Hyderabad continues to have a profound impact on the family of young fan Sri Teja, who suffered severe injuries during the chaos. While the film went on to become one of the biggest box-office successes in Indian cinema, the incident left one family devastated, resulting in the death of Sri Teja’s mother, Revathi, and life-altering injuries to the teenager.

The case has once again come into focus after actor Allu Arjun was directed by the Nampally Court to appear in person on June 22 in connection with proceedings related to the incident.

Nearly one-and-a-half years after the tragedy, Sri Teja continues to battle serious health complications and requires constant medical care.

What happened during the Pushpa 2 screening?

The incident occurred on December 4, 2024, during a special screening of Pushpa 2: The Rule at the Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad.

Thousands of fans had gathered outside the theatre to watch the film and catch a glimpse of Allu Arjun. According to reports, the actor’s arrival led to a sudden surge in the crowd, creating a stampede-like situation near the theatre entrance.

Sri Teja had attended the screening with his parents, Revathi and Bhaskar, along with his younger sister.

During the chaos, the family was reportedly knocked to the ground and trampled by the crowd. While Bhaskar and his daughter escaped with relatively minor injuries, Revathi lost her life, and Sri Teja sustained critical head injuries.

The incident sparked widespread debate regarding crowd management and safety measures during high-profile film events.

Sri Teja suffered severe brain injuries

Following the incident, Sri Teja was rushed to hospital and remained under intensive medical care for several months.

Doctors later declared him out of immediate danger, but the injuries resulted in long-term neurological damage.

According to reports, Sri Teja has suffered approximately 70 per cent brain injury. Although he is no longer in critical condition, he remains semi-conscious and bedridden.

Family members have stated that he is unable to communicate effectively, recognise people consistently or express his basic needs independently.

His condition requires continuous monitoring and specialised rehabilitation efforts.

Ongoing medical support and rehabilitation

Sri Teja currently depends on a gastrostomy tube for nutrition and a tracheostomy tube to assist with breathing.

His recovery process involves extensive rehabilitation and round-the-clock care. The family home has effectively been transformed into a medical care facility to accommodate his needs.

Medical experts continue to work on improving his quality of life, although the extent of the brain damage presents significant challenges to recovery.

The long-term prognosis remains uncertain, and rehabilitation is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

Family faces emotional and financial challenges

The tragedy has taken a substantial emotional and financial toll on the family.

Sri Teja’s father, Bhaskar, reportedly left his job to become his son’s full-time caregiver. The decision has added financial pressure as medical treatment, rehabilitation and home-care requirements continue to generate significant expenses.

In December 2025, Bhaskar met Telangana State Film Development Corporation chairman Dil Raju and sought additional assistance for his son’s ongoing treatment.

The family has repeatedly highlighted the challenges of managing both the emotional burden of the tragedy and the financial demands of long-term medical care.

Support extended by Allu Arjun’s family

In recent months, members of Allu Arjun’s family have visited Sri Teja and extended support to those affected by the incident.

Reports indicate that producer Allu Aravind and Allu Arjun’s wife Sneha Reddy visited the family’s residence and assured them of continued assistance.

According to the family, Allu Arjun has undertaken responsibility for funding Sri Teja’s rehabilitation expenses at a specialised treatment centre.

In addition, Allu Aravind reportedly assured support for the education of Sri Teja’s younger sister.

These measures have provided some relief to the family as they continue to navigate the aftermath of the incident.

Court proceedings continue

The legal proceedings arising from the tragedy remain ongoing.

The Nampally Court has directed Allu Arjun to appear in person on June 22 as part of the case linked to the incident. The matter continues to attract public attention given the scale of the tragedy and the popularity of Pushpa 2.

While legal questions surrounding accountability continue to be examined, the focus for Sri Teja’s family remains his health and rehabilitation.

More than a year after the incident, Sri Teja’s condition serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of crowd-related accidents and the lasting impact such tragedies can have on families.

The family continues to hope for improvements in his condition as doctors and caregivers work to support his long-term recovery journey.