Siddharth clarifies his comments on Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2: The Rule; says, 'Cinema needs to be healthy'

Siddharth about Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2

Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2: The Rule continues to dominate the box office, having quickly surpassed the Rs 1000 crore mark globally. However, actor Siddharth faced backlash for his remarks on the film, which many interpreted as dismissive of its success. Siddharth has now addressed these comments amid the ongoing controversy.

During an interview with Tamil YouTuber Madan Gowri, Siddharth suggested that the large crowds attracted by Pushpa 2 were not necessarily indicative of the film's quality. He likened the crowd to those that gather around a JCB construction site, implying that large gatherings are not always a sign of a film's merit.

"In India, there’s no connection between gathering a large crowd and quality. It’s not a big deal to gather a crowd in India. You bring a JCB for construction and crowds will gather automatically," he had said in the interview.

At a press meet in Chennai for his upcoming film Miss You, Siddharth was questioned about whether he had any issues with Allu Arjun following his controversial comments. Siddharth clarified, "I have a problem with the word ‘problem’ itself and don’t think I need to clarify on the same. Congratulations to the team of Pushpa 2 for the success. The first part of the film was a huge hit so obviously the crowd will come to theatres to see the sequel."

Siddharth further elaborated on his perspective, emphasising that the film industry as a whole benefits from large crowds and successful films, "The bigger the crowds that gather, the better. Let’s hope that the crowds will come to theatres also. Cinema needs to be healthy. All of us are in the same boat. For a movie to release and become a hit, it is a 1 in 100 situation. Good things should happen to producers. Artists should reap the benefits of their hard work."

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The controversy began when Siddharth's comments during the interview with Madan Gowri were perceived as undermining the significance of Pushpa 2's massive audience. His remarks came ahead of the release of Miss You, which was initially set to clash with Pushpa 2: The Rule but was later postponed.

Directed by Sukumar, Pushpa 2: The Rule stars Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil, reprising their roles as Pushpa Raj, Srivalli, and Bhanwar Singh Shekawat, respectively. The sequel has seen unprecedented success, reflecting the strong fanbase and anticipation built by the first installment.