The victim spoke about films like Pushpa 2 encouraging ordinary people to imitate gangster-like behaviour.
A violent altercation during the screening of Pushpa 2 at a local theatre in Gwalior city of India’s Madhya Pradesh state has resulted in a man’s ear being bitten off by a canteen staff member.
The incident, which occurred on December 10 at Kajal Talkies in Phalka Bazar, has drawn attention due to its similarity to a scene from the film in which the protagonist, Pushpa, fights back by biting his enemies.
According to Indian media, the altercation began during the intermission of the film when the victim, Shabbir Khan, got into an argument with canteen staff members, identified as Raju, Chandan, and MA Khan, over a food bill.
The disagreement escalated into a physical fight, with one of the staff members reportedly biting Shabbir Khan’s ear, causing significant bleeding.
Shabbir Khan was rushed to a nearby hospital where he underwent minor surgery, receiving eight stitches to his ear.
Following the incident, Shabbir Khan filed a complaint at Inderganj Police Station, and a case was registered under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Sections 294 (obscene acts), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 34 (common intention).
The crime has been compared to a scene in Pushpa 2, where Allu Arjun’s character, bound by hands and legs, bites his enemies to escape. Shabbir Khan later spoke about the influence of media, particularly films like Pushpa 2, which he believes encourage ordinary people to imitate gangster-like behaviour.
The police have assured that an investigation is underway. The incident comes as Pushpa 2 continues to break multiple box office records, grossing over $94.5 million globally during its extended opening weekend.
Earlier South Indian actor Siddharth Suryanarayan found himself at the centre of controversy following his recent remarks about the massive crowd gathered for the trailer launch of Pushpa 2: The Rule.
The event, held in Patna, saw thousands of fans lining up to catch a glimpse of Allu Arjun, who stars as Pushpa Raj in the blockbuster sequel. However, Siddharth’s comments comparing the crowd to a JCB digging site have enraged Allu Arjun’s supporters.
Speaking at an event, Siddharth reacted to the scene in Patna, where large crowds turned out for the Pushpa 2 trailer launch.
He stated, “In our country, even a JCB digging site attracts a crowd. So, people gathering to see Allu Arjun in Bihar is not something extraordinary. If they organise, crowds will be there. In India, crowds don’t mean quality. If that is true, all political parties must win; it’s for biryani packets and quarter bottles.”
South Indian superstar Allu Arjun previously addressed the tragic stampede that occurred during the premiere of his highly anticipated sequel Pushpa 2: The Rule.
The incident, which took place at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre, resulted in the death of a woman named Revathi and left her son critically injured. Chaos ensued after Arjun made an impromptu visit to the event, attracting a huge crowd.
Authorities have since filed charges against Allu Arjun and his team for not notifying law enforcement and failing to implement proper crowd control measures during the screening.
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