Pushpa director Sukumar recently visited nine-year-old Sri Tej, who is critically injured following a stampede during the screening of Pushpa 2: The Rule on December 4. The tragic incident also claimed the life of the boy’s mother, who died of asphyxiation.
Sukumar met Sri Tej at a private hospital in Hyderabad on December 19 and spoke with his family about his condition. He expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and extended financial assistance of ₹5 lakh to the victim’s father.
The director’s spokesperson confirmed the donation in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Director Sukumar visited Sri Tej at the hospital. His wife Tabitha donated ₹5 lakh to Sri Tej’s father on December 9.”The boy remains on a ventilator in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as doctors closely monitor his condition.
This gesture comes shortly after Pushpa star Allu Arjun also donated ₹25 lakh to the family of another stampede victim. The actor, however, was arrested recently in connection with the death of a fan during the premiere.
The tragic stampede has sparked widespread discussions about safety measures at public events, especially high-profile film premieres, raising concerns about managing large crowds to prevent such incidents in the future.
