Allu Arjun Faces Complaint Over ‘Army’ Reference for Fans at Pushpa 2 Event

Actor Allu Arjun, who has long referred to his fan base as his "army," has landed in controversy after a promotional event for his upcoming film Pushpa 2: The Rule in Mumbai. A man named Srinivas Goud filed a complaint at the Jawahar Nagar Police Station in Hyderabad, objecting to the use of the term "army" for the actor’s followers.

According to reports, Goud, who is the president of the Green Peace Environment and Water Harvesting Foundation, took offense to the usage of the term, claiming it undermines the honor associated with the word. He argued that "army" refers to the nation's armed forces, who protect the country, and said it should not be used casually for fan communities.

In a video shared by Aadhnan Telugu, Goud stated, “We have filed a complaint against Tollywood star Allu Arjun requesting him not to use the word army for his fan base. Army is an honourable post; they’re the ones who protect our country, so you can’t call your fans that. There are many other terms he could use instead.”

The controversy stems from Arjun's remarks during the Mumbai event, where he said, “I don’t have fans; I have an army. I love my fans; they’re like my family. They stand by me; they celebrate me. They stand for me like an army. I love you all; I will make you proud. If this film becomes a big hit, I will dedicate it to all my fans.”

Pushpa 2: The Rule, directed by Sukumar, is the highly anticipated sequel to the 2021 blockbuster Pushpa: The Rise. The film follows the journey of Pushpa Raj, played by Allu Arjun, as he rises from a daily wage worker to a red sandalwood smuggler. Arjun won a National Award for his performance in the first installment. The sequel, slated for release on December 5, also stars Rashmika Mandanna as Srivalli and Fahadh Faasil as Bhanwar Singh Shekawat.

While fans eagerly await the release, the complaint has sparked a debate about the usage of terms associated with national institutions in popular culture. Neither Allu Arjun nor his team has issued an official response to the complaint.