South superstar Allu Arjun skipped Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi's upcoming film, Thandel's pre-release event in Hyderabad on Sunday evening (February 2). Later, during the event, Allu Arjun's father Allu Aravind revealed the actor had some health issues due to which he couldn't make it.
The Pushpa actor was announced as the chief guest of the event and fans waited on LIVE till 11 pm to watch Allu Arjun but much to their disappointment, he did not turn up. Reportedly, the event also got delayed by nearly three hours -- it started around 8 pm.
Allu Aravind said during the event, "I didn't get the chance to tell everyone this, I don't want anyone to misunderstand. We thought Bunny (Allu Arjun) would come, but he didn't because he returned from abroad with severe gastritis, so he couldn't be here."
It may be noted that the event wasn't made open to the public. Just a few hours before the event, the makers of Thandel announced on X, "PLEASE NOTE: No public entry for today's #ThandelJaathara. Enjoy the ICONIC EVENT from the comfort of your homes."
"Pushpa Raj x Thandel Raju. Unfortunately, owing to certain reasons, Iconic Thandel Jaathara is a closed door event. There is no permission for public entry to the event. Watch the event live on your screens and enjoy the event to the fullest," the note further read.
According to a report in Hindustan Times, Allu Arjun did not receive permission to attend the event due to his legal issues. The actor is currently out on bail after getting arrested in connection with the death of a woman in a stampede during the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule at Hyderabad's Sandhya Theatre on December 4, 2024.
On February 1, videos was Allu Arjun at Hyderabad airport surfaced on social media as he returned home from abroad.
About Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi's film
Directed by Chandoo Mondeti, Thandel is inspired by a real-life incident where fishermen from Srikakulam unintentionally crossed into Pakistani waters. Produced by Bunny Vasu under Geetha Arts and presented by Allu Aravind, the film is scheduled to release on February 7 in theatres.
