What began as a night of celebration in Rayagada’s Ashoka Talkies on Friday, January 9, 2026, turned into chaos when a fire ignited during the screening of Prabhas’ latest film, The Raja Saab. The scene took place at the star’s much-anticipated entrance scene as overenthusiastic fans tried to carry out traditional rituals in a darkened space.
Celebration Turns to Chaos
Once Prabhas made his big appearance on screen, the auditorium erupted in cheers and whistles. With great fans in full force, a few brought an aarti ki thaali (ritual lamp tray) to the front of the screen. Witnesses said fans were lighting lamps and exploding tiny “fire arrows” and crackers as they threw confetti up. The sparks from the firecrackers ignited the paper confetti and streamers that the crowd had thrown up, igniting a spontaneous fire in front of the screen.
Panic and Response
Videos shared on social media showed that the initial moments when flames began to spread were terrifying: They were accompanied by a brief stampede, as frightened filmgoers ran toward the exits. “In seconds, it went from a celebration to a nightmare,” one viewer said. “The smoke filled the front of the hall, and people were screaming.” Luckily theater staff and a few alert audience members moved quickly.
Using fire extinguishers and water nearby, they doused the flames before they got to the screen or the seating area. The screening was temporarily paused for safety checks, but resumed immediately after the scene was resolved. No Casualties Reported. No injuries or deaths were reported due to the incident, authorities said.
But the Rayagada police and theater crew both express strong disapproval of the fans’ behavior. The incident comes a moment after other viral videos of Prabhas fans lug giant mock crocodiles into theaters to re-enact a recognizable fight scene from the movie, illustrating the virulent and, at times dangerous degree of "Rebel Star" mania.
