Fan celebrations often know no boundaries, and this is a common sight, especially in Indian theatres. There have been several such celebrations that have often gone overboard. In India, actors are often seen as demi-gods by their fans, who struggle to contain their excitement when they see their favourite heroes on the silver screen, especially during the initial shows of highly anticipated films.

Interestingly, recently during the screening of Pawan Kalyan’s Hari Hara Veera Mallu abroad, officials had to stop the screening after fans covered the hall with confetti to celebrate the Power Star. In the viral video, theatre staff were seen explaining to the audience the difficulties involved in cleaning up the hall after the show. Similarly, sometime ago, Salman Khan—arguably India’s biggest star—warned his fans about celebrations inside cinemas going overboard after they set off fireworks during the screening of Tiger 3 at Mohan Cinema in Malegaon, Maharashtra. The audience was left shell-shocked as rockets and string bombs ignited the front rows in the hall.

And now the alleged incident during the screening of War 2 has become a talking point on the internet.

The alleged incident

The release of War 2 triggered massive celebrations among Jr NTR fans, especially during his dramatic entry scene featuring him landing shirtless via drone, flaunting his eight-pack abs. While most fans expressed excitement through dancing, confetti, and cheers, a viral video has sparked serious safety concerns. In the clip, a man appears to light what resembles a flamethrower inside the theatre during the frenzy. It is unclear whether he used a lighter and deodorant spray or an actual device, but the act alarmed many viewers. Although some dismissed it as overenthusiastic celebration, others strongly criticized the dangerous stunt which could have gone horribly wrong. Several people highlighting the risks such behaviour poses in crowded public spaces like cinemas.

Box office clash

Just a day before the Independence Day celebrations, the Indian box office witnessed a clash of mammoth proportions when Lokesh Kanagaraj’s star vehicle Coolie—starring Rajinikanth with a cameo by Aamir Khan—clashed against the high-octane action thriller War 2, part of the YRF spy franchise, featuring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR in the lead roles.

According to reports, Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Coolie, which also stars Nagarjuna, Shruti Haasan, Soubin Shahir, and Upendra among others, has clearly surged ahead in box office collections, grossing over ₹150 crores on Day 1. Meanwhile, War 2 managed to rake in just over ₹50 crores, reportedly falling short by a considerable margin. However, with largely mixed reviews for both films, declaring a clear winner at the box office is impossible as trackers closely monitor how both big-budget films will perform in the coming days.