The social media hurricane surrounding Allu Arjun’s purported 42 dos and don’ts has now settled as the main source of the information issued a total retraction. The brand strategist, who previously said the actor has a lengthy list of strict conditions related to brand collaborations, has since apologized for what he has termed “misinterpreted information.”
The Rise of the “42 Rules” Argument
The controversy also began last week when a leading brand strategist hosted a popular podcast. The strategist said during the call that a documented guide of 42 sets of specific rules made working with the Pushpa star uniquely difficult. These allegedly included:
Specific lighting and camera angle needs. “No-go” zones for personal encounters. Forced luxury deals supposedly beyond the realm of typical industry standards. The clips from the podcast made waves on platforms including X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to become a hot topic, igniting arguments from fans and other business insiders regarding what some in the entertainment scene have termed the “diva behavior” of stars in their prime.
The Retraction and Apology
After outcry from Allu Arjun’s legal and PR teams, the strategist posted a formal statement on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. In his apology, he explained that his comments had been formed by “second-hand anecdotes and a misunderstanding of professional brand guidelines.”
"I deeply apologize to Allu Arjun Garu and his team. My thoughts on a ‘42-point rule list’ were inarguably inflated and did not come from anything that was actual documents. Allu Arjun is a professional who has been able to achieve such achievements by doing what he does and not demanding anything. I would like to retract all claims made during the podcast," the strategist’s statement read.
Podcaster Takes Action
As part of the apology, all footage and short clips pertaining to the actor's professional conduct have now been taken down by the podcaster who hosted the original interview. That host put out a quick note, saying they "aim to provide a platform for insight, not misinformation," and decided to take the cut to stop further tarnishing the actor's reputation.
Focus Returns to Pushpa 2
To Allu Arjun, this resolution comes at the right moment. The actor is in the latter stages of his much-anticipated Pushpa 2: The Rule. It seems the rapid legal and PR reaction was something that the industry felt the need to do, according to industry insiders, in order to ensure none of the image of the actor suffers damage ahead of what they predict will be one of the 10 most important Indian cinematic releases in a decade.
The retraction has received fanfare, with fans trending the hashtag #ThalaivarOfHardwork to lend their solidarity for the actor. This event is a cautionary tale for how fast propaganda can spread in the digital era, especially around a top star.
