Team Pushpa 2: The Rule went on a promotional blitzkrieg to ensure the film had a massive opening when it was released on December 5. There can be no doubt that they were successful in their strategy as the Allu Arjun-Sukumar film broke many box-office records and it is just inches away from the coveted Rs 1000 crore club. The promotional tour began with an event in Patna, Bihar where scores of fans had turned up to see their favourite star and cheer for the homecoming of a character they had adopted as their own. This event became a talking point, and was pegged as a watershed event in promotional campaigns for big-ticket films that aimed to have a pan-Indian reach. However, actor Siddharth, who was recently seen in Indian 2, isn’t buying it. ALSO READ: Pushpa 2 worldwide box office collection Day 5: Allu Arjun film mints Rs 900 crore worldwide In a recent podcast with YouTuber Madan Gowri, Siddharth, who was promoting his upcoming film Miss You, spoke strongly against manufactured hype for movies. “It is all marketing,” said the actor when he was asked about the reach of Pushpa 2 in the Hindi markets. “Honestly, in our country, it is not tough to pool in crowds. For instance, if you are going to have four JCBs in an area to do some construction, you will have people gathering just to witness it. They (team Pushpa 2) booked a ground, and organised an event. People came to watch. That’s all. In India, crowds doesn’t reflect quality,” said Siddharth, who went on to say that every political party in India can usher in huge crowds for the meeting, but it doesn’t mean they win every election. Suggesting that most of the participants of such political rallies are paid to be there, Siddharth said, “Back in my time, we used to call these crowds Biriyani and quarter bottle (alcohol).” As expected, these comments haven’t gone down well among netizens who started admonishing the actor for his opinion that seemingly belittled the reach of the film. Pushpa 2, which has amassed over Rs 900 crore at the worldwide box office, has already become the fastest Indian film to breach the Rs 500 crore, Rs 600 crore, Rs 700 crore, Rs 800 crore, and Rs 900 crore mark. Starring Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil, Pushpa 2: The Rule did receive mixed responses from critics, but it seems to be one of those review-proof films that draws in crowds irrespective of its critical response. ALSO READ | Sunny Deol confirms working in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: ‘They’re trying to make it like Avatar, Planet of the Apes movies’ Meanwhile, Siddharth’s Miss You, which was supposed to be released on November 29, was rescheduled due to the rains in Tamil Nadu, and will now hit screens on December 13.
