Oh, where do we even begin? The recent fiasco at the Pushpa 2 press conference in Mumbai has left a lot of us scratching our heads—and not in admiration, but in utter disbelief. The stars of the event, Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna, served up a performance that was less about acting and more about pure, unadulterated indifference, bordering on an absolute insult to professionalism, respect, and common decency.
The star-studded event, which was supposed to be all about the glitzy glamour of the much-anticipated Pushpa 2, turned into a masterclass in how to completely mishandle a situation when Allu Arjun’s manager, the so-called "protector" of the star’s image, decided to go rogue. And guess who was the victim? A senior female reporter, Vibha Kaul Bhat, who, mind you, has a career spanning over 25 years—25 years—of impeccable journalism, facing the wrath of a manchild on an ego trip.
The Scene of the Crime: Vibha, just doing her job (remember, her job), was simply recording a video during the press conference. She wasn’t interfering with anyone, she wasn’t asking for autographs, and she certainly wasn’t causing a scene. She was simply doing what she’s been doing for decades—capturing moments at an event. But Allu Arjun’s manager, in a display of sheer immaturity and aggression, decided that this was too much for him to handle.
What followed next was not just jaw-dropping, but downright horrifying. He allegedly grabbed Vibha’s hand, threw it down, and treated her like she was some kind of nuisance on the floor, as if she were the one committing a crime simply by doing her job. But wait, the best part is that Allu Arjun, the “star” of the show, didn’t even flinch. He didn’t leap to the aid of a woman being manhandled. He didn’t step in and say, “Hey, this is unacceptable.” No, he just sat there like a stunned chicken, gawking at the scene unfold before his very eyes.
And Rashmika Mandanna? The so-called torchbearer of women’s empowerment? Well, she too chose to “remain quiet” like a good little bystander. Apparently, her belief in women’s rights and empowerment only extends as far as posing for pretty pictures on Instagram, not as far as defending a woman in distress in front of her eyes. Congratulations, Rashmika. You’ve set the bar lower than we ever thought possible.
Now, here’s where the plot thickens (or maybe it just gets even more absurd). Did Allu Arjun, Rashmika, or anyone else from their team issue an apology? Did they step up and make things right? Did they even bother to acknowledge the incident?
Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Not even a half-hearted "Sorry" from anyone.
Instead, they both sat there, pretending nothing happened. The same two stars who, when questioned about their "big movie" and "fan following," are quick to showcase their gratitude for their supporters. But when a professional woman, with a track record of over two decades, is humiliated in front of a crowd, the “thank yous” disappear. And so does the basic decency.
Allu Arjun, you're a "star" who’s so big you practically have a whole industry bowing down to you. Yet when a woman is being physically accosted, you're either too busy playing the “I’m-too-cool-for-this” card, or you're simply too ignorant to give a damn. Either way, you're a walking disaster of irresponsibility and arrogance.
Rashmika Mandanna, the “face of women empowerment” who apparently thinks “empowerment” means posting motivational quotes and looking pretty in photos. Newsflash, Rashmika: Empowerment isn’t just about posing for the camera or reciting Instagram-friendly lines. It’s about using your platform to stand up for what’s right. But no, you chose silence—perhaps that’s more comfortable than actually doing something useful for once.
Let’s be real. This guy probably thinks his “tough guy” antics are cool. Guess what? They’re not. They’re an embarrassment to every professional in the room. If you can't keep your emotions in check and treat people with respect, you shouldn’t be managing anyone, let alone a major celebrity. Your behavior was not only disgraceful but also utterly childish. How about growing up and learning the meaning of professionalism?
The worst part of all of this is the ironic twist in the narrative. Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna are both in the business of acting—of playing roles, of pretending to be someone they’re not. Well, guess what? They played the role of the perfectly indifferent bystanders too well in this incident. And if that wasn’t enough, they also managed to destroy any shred of credibility they had when it comes to advocating for respect, decency, and women’s rights.
So, what’s the lesson here? If you’re going to make a public appearance, especially when your job revolves around being in the spotlight, maybe take a minute to think about the people around you. Women deserve respect. Professional women deserve respect. And sitting idly by while one of your employees assaults a journalist is not the kind of “class” anyone should aspire to.
But then again, it’s not surprising. For Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna, who seemed to have learned nothing from this experience, the only thing they might want to remember is this: Not all publicity is good publicity. And if they keep this up, they’re going to need a whole lot of PR to clean up this mess. Until then, they’ve got a lot of explaining to do—and no amount of charming smiles or film promotions can undo the damage they’ve done to their public image.
The moral of the story? Don’t just play the part of the “good guy”—be the good guy. And if you can’t manage that, don’t bother showing up at all.
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