When Fandom Went Too Far: Fire Breaks Out as Prabhas’ Fans Perform Aarti Inside Cinema Hall – WATCH

What began as an electrifying celebration of stardom nearly spiralled into disaster on Thursday night in Odisha’s Rayagada district, when a fire broke out inside a packed cinema hall during the screening of Prabhas’ much-awaited film The Raja Saab.,The incident unfolded at Ashok Talkies at a crucial moment in the film, the grand on-screen entry of Prabhas. As the superstar appeared, the hall erupted in deafening cheers. Fans stood up from their seats, whistles pierced the air, and mobile phone flashlights lit up the darkened theatre. What followed, however, crossed the thin line between celebration and chaos.,An Aarti, Then a Run for Life,,According to reports, a group of fans began performing Aarti in front of the screen, treating the actor’s entry as a moment of devotion rather than cinema. Amid the frenzy, some attempted to burst firecrackers inside the hall, an act that proved dangerously reckless. Within moments, a sudden fire broke out near the screen area, triggering panic among the audience.,Video:,,For a few tense minutes, confusion reigned inside the theatre. Screams echoed as moviegoers rushed towards exits, fearing the blaze could spread. Thankfully, the situation did not escalate further. Audience members and theatre staff acted swiftly, managing to bring the fire under control before it caused serious damage. The screening was immediately halted as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of those present.,Remarkably, no casualties were reported in the incident. Officials said the cinema hall escaped major damage, averting what could have turned into a tragic episode.,Videos of the incident, capturing fans performing Aarti, bursting crackers, and the sudden flare-up, soon surfaced on social media, quickly going viral and sparking widespread concern over safety lapses inside cinema halls.,The Raja Saab, directed and written by Maruthi, features Prabhas in the lead role alongside Malavika Mohanan, Nidhi Agerwal, Riddhi Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, and Boman Irani. Released on January 9 in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam, the film opened to packed theatres across the country — with Rayagada’s Ashok Talkies witnessing a night that audiences will remember for reasons far beyond the movie itself. Read more