Friday, April 25, 2026: A disturbance erupted at a Hyderabad theatre during the re-release of the popular film Darling, starring Prabhas and Kajal Aggarwal. The film was re-screened during a lull in Telugu film releases, attracting a crowd. However, a viral video captured a man being physically assaulted by individuals dressed in blue uniforms, believed to be theatre staff.
In the footage, the man attempts to defend himself as he is surrounded, shouted at, and physically attacked. A woman in uniform is seen asking him to leave, while another staff member strikes him with a stick. A subsequent video shows the situation escalating further, with the woman removing her slippers to hit him, and others continuing to punch him.
The reasons behind the altercation remain unclear. Some online users claim the man was assaulted after requesting the theatre to replay songs from the film. Others suggest he misbehaved with a female staff member. There are also reports indicating he may have been intoxicated. The theatre has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
Adding another perspective, a different video suggests the man being beaten was actually his friend. An account shared on X (formerly Twitter) claims that the woman snatched the man’s bag first, and when they raised an issue, theatre management intervened, leading to a scuffle and staff hitting people with sticks.
Darling made a remarkable return to theatres after 16 years, in a 4K remastered version that received a strong response at the box office. Industry tracker Sacnilk reports that the film sold over 2 lakh tickets and grossed Rs 7.59 crore worldwide on its opening day.
Prabhas’ Recent and Upcoming Projects
After his performances in Adipurush and Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire, Prabhas starred in the sci-fi epic Kalki 2898 AD, which crossed Rs 1000 crore globally. The film also featured Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan.
In 2025, he made a cameo appearance in Kannappa and lent his voice to Mirai. This year, he appeared in the horror-comedy The Raja Saab, which earned over Rs 200 crore at the box office.
Looking ahead, Prabhas has several projects in the pipeline. These include the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD, reportedly featuring Sai Pallavi, along with Fauzi, directed by Hanu Raghavapudi, and Spirit with Sandeep Reddy Vanga.