After Pushpa stampede, Nani seeks police nod for Paradise, Telangana CM steps in
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has asked actor Nani to submit an official application to the local police after the actor sought permission to attend The Paradise premiere at Hyderabad’s RTC X Roads on September 23. The request will be considered from a crowd-management and public-safety perspective, a particularly important concern given the Pushpa stampede tragedy in the same area in December 2024.
On Tuesday, Nani approached the CM, Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and the state police, saying he wanted to watch the film with the audience.
Nani made the request on X, explaining that watching a film alongside an audience has always been an important part of his relationship with cinema. He specifically chose RTC X Roads because of its association with large theatrical gatherings in Hyderabad.
He wrote, "For me, cinema has always been about watching it together with people who love it just as much as I do. And in Hyderabad, that experience has a special place at RTC X Roads (sic)."
“I believe the ultimate satisfaction of making a film lies in sitting among the audience and experiencing their response to it,” Nani added, while assuring the authorities that all necessary safety protocols and guidelines would be followed.
The Saripodhaa Sanivaaram actor continued, "We will follow all the necessary protocols and safety guidelines in place. That will be our priority (sic)."
Against that backdrop, Revanth Reddy did not grant Nani direct permission. Instead, he asked him to submit a formal application to the local police station, where officials would assess the request based on crowd management and public safety.
In a follow-up post, Nani thanked the CM for his prompt response and said he understood the concerns, especially with Ganesh Nimarjanam arrangements underway. He said he would respect the police department’s final decision and was willing to skip the visit if his presence created any safety or crowd-management issues.
The request, however, came at a location where crowd control has already become a major safety concern. In December 2024, a woman named Revathi died, and her young son was seriously injured in a crowd surge outside Sandhya Theatre during the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule. Actor Allu Arjun was present at the theatre at the time. The incident led to a wider debate around celebrity appearances at crowded film screenings and the responsibility of theatres, organisers and public authorities to manage such gatherings.
The Paradise is set to release worldwide on September 24, with a special premiere scheduled for September 23. Telangana authorities have also approved the special show and allowed revised ticket prices for the film.
Directed by Srikanth Odela, The Paradise stars Nani in the lead and is set in 1980s Secunderabad. The film marks Nani and Odela’s second collaboration after Dasara and has been positioned as an intense action drama with a strong emotional core.- EndsPublished By: Anisha RaoPublished On: Sep 23, 2026 13:29 ISTALSO READ | For AI bots, not reviews: Nani on The Paradise order against targetted content
