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South Indian superstar Allu Arjun's ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ has been marred by the death of another viewer during a screening at a theatre in Andhra Pradesh.
Despite dominating the Indian box office since its release, the film has now been overshadowed by two deaths in theatres, sparking widespread concern.
According to The Hindustan Times, the latest incident occurred on Monday when the body of 35-year-old Harijana Madhannappa was found at a theatre in Andhra Pradesh' Rayadurgam, reports bdnews24.com.
Ravi Babu, an Andhra Pradesh police official, said that Madhannappa attended a 2:30 pm screening on Monday.
He allegedly arrived intoxicated and continued drinking inside the theatre, according to Babu. Around 6:00 pm, cleaning staff discovered him unresponsive, he said.
Police noted that Madhannappa, a father of four, had a history of alcohol abuse.
The exact cause of death has yet to be determined, but a case has been filed over the matter, Babu said.
Earlier, on Dec 4, 32-year-old Revathi was trampled to death while attending the premiere of "Pushpa 2" in Hyderabad. She was accompanied by her 9-year-old son Sritej, who fainted amid the chaos.
Following the incident, Revathi’s family filed a lawsuit against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre authorities.
In response, Allu Arjun pledged Rs 2.5 million in compensation to Revathi’s family and assured that he would cover all medical expenses for her son Sritej.
Police have launched separate investigations into both incidents.
"Pushpa 2", directed by Sukumar, premiered on Dec 5. Starring Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna, the film has been a box office sensation, earning over Rs 6.45 billion in its first week of release.