Stampede during Pushpa 2 screening reinforces need for celebrity accountability

Even as Pushpa 2: The Rule cements its position as one of the biggest hits of all time in India, lead actor Allu Arjun has been embroiled in a massive controversy over a stampede during the screening of the Telugu film at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad where he was present, that led to the death of a woman and left her minor son critically injured. Failure to do so can lead to legal consequences, as seen in Allu Arjun's case," Gaurav Sahay, practice head - technology and general corporate at law firm Fox Mandal & Associates LLP said. To be sure, there have been other incidents that illustrate that celebrities or public figures may face legal consequences if their actions or omissions are found to have direct or indirect contribution to mishaps, especially in cases involving negligence or creation of unsafe environment for the public at large. “These incidents illustrate that celebrities or public figures may face legal consequences if their actions or omissions are found to have direct or indirect contribution to mishaps. “While, generally, it would be unfair to hold celebrities accountable in such cases, as these calls and arrangements are mostly by the celebrities’ PR, producers and theatre management, celebrities cannot be totally let off the hook, and they must insist that adequate arrangements be made and precautions taken," Rushad Irani, principal associate at Pioneer Legal said.