Mumbai, Dec 17: As “Pushpa 2” fever continues to take over, Akshay Kumar has joined in on the excitement by recreating the film’s most iconic dialogue, “Wildfire hu.”

In a video circulating on the internet, Akshay is seen delivering Allu Arjun’s iconic line, “Wildfire hu.” Soon after the video surfaced online, fans couldn’t help but gush over Khiladi Kumar. One netizen commented, “Wow, amazing @akshaykumar sir, wildfire pose of mega superstar @alluarjun from #Pushpa2TheRule, great!” Another said, “I remember he supported Pushpa 1 also.”

Not to forget, in 2021, Akshay had penned a congratulatory note for Allu Arjun after the success of “Pushpa: The Rise.”

The ‘Airlift’ actor had written, “Congratulations @alluarjun on the massive response you have received from all over India for #PushpaTheRise, another big win for our industry… planning to watch it real soon. @GTelefilms.” In response, Allu Arjun replied, “Thank you very much, Akshay ji. Nice of you to send your warm wishes. Congratulations to you too. Glad people are coming back to theatres & the Indian film industry is shining again.”

“Pushpa 2: The Rule,” directed by Sukumar, features Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil. Released in theatres on December 5, the movie has crossed a remarkable Rs 1000 crore globally within just seven days. The sequel to the 2021 hit has reportedly earned Rs 902 crore at the India box office. It also became the first Hindi film to collect over Rs 100 crore in its second weekend.

Recently, Allu Arjun was arrested in connection with the death of a fan at the premiere of “Pushpa 2.” He was released from jail, with several stars visiting his residence afterward.

In a statement, the actor revealed that his legal team has advised him not to meet anyone or visit his family at this time.

In his note, the actor wrote, “I remain deeply concerned about young Sri Tej, who is under constant medical care after the unfortunate incident.”

Mumbai, Dec 16: The tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain left for the heavenly abode on December 15, leaving a huge void in India’s music. With his excellence and humility, the Ustad touched many lives, young and old, people in positions of power and the common man. Such is the impact of one of the greatest tabla players that his demise feels like a personal loss to many.

Several members of the film fraternity like Kamal Haasan, Akshay Kumar, A. R. Rahman, Mohanlal, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Hansal Mehta, and others shared their condolences on his demise.

Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar took to his social media and shared an image of Zakir Hussain. He wrote, “Very pained to know about the sad demise of Ustad Zakir Hussain Sahab. He was truly a treasure for our country’s musical heritage. Om Shanti”.

Veteran Tamil megastar Kamal Haasan took to his X, formerly Twitter and shared an old image in which Zakir Hussain could be seen giving the taal to the actor as the latter plays tabla. He wrote, “Zakir Bhai! He left too soon. Yet we are grateful for the times he gave us and what he left behind in the form of his art. Goodbye and Thank you”.

Oscar and Grammy-winning music composer A. R. Rahman called Zakir an inspiration and expressed his regret for not collaborating with him in recent years. He wrote, “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. Zakir Bhai was an inspiration, a towering personality who elevated the tabla to global acclaim. His loss is immeasurable for all of us. I regret not being able to collaborate with him as much as we did decades ago, though we had planned an album together. You shall be truly missed.

May his family and his countless students worldwide find the strength to bear this immense loss”. Veteran Malayalam superstar Mohanlal wrote on his X, “Ustad Zakir Hussain’s passing leaves an irreplaceable void in the world of music. His rhythms united hearts across borders. My deepest condolences to his family and admirers”.

Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan, who was recently seen along with Akshay Kumar in ‘Singham Again’, also paid tribute to the legendary musician with a heartfelt image that featured her alongside Zakir Hussain and her father, Randhir Kapoor. She wrote, “Maestro forever”.

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta, who recently directed Kareena in ‘The Buckingham Murders’ also took to his X, and wrote, “The maestro who made so many sleepless nights at Hindustani classical concerts memorable. The man who knew how to engage with an audience through his artistry. The Ustad who made the tabla sexy. Goodbye Ustad Zakir Hussain”.

Playback singer Sonu Nigam expressed his shock at the demise of the late musician, as he took to his Instagram, and wrote, “Zakir bhai… What is this?”.

Actress Nimrat Kaur recalled the last time she saw Ustad Zakir Hussain perform live earlier this year. She took to her Instagram, and shared a picture and a video of the late musician. She wrote in the caption, “On Feb 28th, ’24, when I last watched Ustad Zakir Hussain live at Prithvi Theatre, I recall my heart beating to the beats of the sheer flawless genius of his talent. His international superstardom and the zenith of his achievements are forever here to inspire and energize us”.

“As a human being, to remain the most humble, gracious, and generous through his incomparable life journey is what remains etched as a life goal in my heart. Your kind eyes and mystical being shall outlive generations…rest in glory Ustad ji. Never shall there be another”, she added.

Telugu actor Allu Arjun was reunited with his family after spending a night in Chanchalguda jail. The family welcomed him as he arrived at his residence in Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad on Saturday morning. He was seen hugging his family members who were very emotional on his arrival.

Shortly after reaching his residence, the Pushpa 2 actor addressed the media present there. The Telugu actor, recently embroiled in the tragic Sandhya Theatre stampede incident, expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased woman, Revathi, after reaching his home on Saturday morning again. He also assured the family of his unwavering support and pledged all possible assistance.

Allu Arjun’s Reaction After Spending Night In Prison

Speaking to the media, the Pushpa 2 star thanked his supporters and stated that he has full faith in the judicial system. “I have been to the Sandhya Theatre more than 30 times and something like this has never happened before. It was purely accidental. This situation has been very challenging for my family,” he stated.

The actor was released from Hyderabad’s Chanchalguda Central Jail early Saturday morning after spending a night in custody. This followed his interim bail granted by the Telangana High Court on a personal bond of Rs 50,000. Heavy security was deployed outside the jail, and Allu Arjun’s father-in-law, Kancharla Chandrasekhar Reddy, was present to receive him.

The Sandhya Theatre stampede incident occurred on December 4, when large crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of the actor during a screening of his film Pushpa 2: The Rule. In the ensuing chaos, the stampede led to the tragic death of 35-year-old Revathi and left her eight-year-old son injured.

Police alleged that certain actions by the actor contributed to the unfortunate event. A lower court in Telangana had initially remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody, but it was overturned by the High Court, which granted him bail on Friday, December 13.

Earlier, at the film’s success meeting on December 7, Allu Arjun expressed his shock over the incident. “The Sandhya Theatre tragedy is very unfortunate. It took me hours to process the news and respond. Psychologically, I was blank for around 10 hours after hearing about it. We are all deeply affected,” he said. The actor also announced Rs 25 lakh financial aid for Revathi’s family.