30 May,2025 08:36 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mahesh Babu in Khaleja
Mahesh Babu's 2010 film Khaleja was re-released in theatres today (May 30). While fan celebrations for the re-release were expected, the chaos that unfolded took everyone by surprise. Videos of fans arriving at cinemas and creating a ruckus have gone viral on social media. In one video, a fan even brought a real snake into the cinema hall to recreate a scene from the film.
Khaleja, starring Mahesh Babu and Anushka Shetty and directed by Trivikram Srinivas, was a commercial success upon its original release. Given the film's cult following, anticipation for the re-release was high. However, the film had a rocky start across multiple screens in Hyderabad and Telangana.
Some viewers who went to see the film took to X (formerly Twitter) to complain that crucial scenes were missing from the re-released version.
At several theatres, fans became upset over the missing scenes and expressed their anger by confronting theatre staff and projectionists. In some instances, physical altercations broke out, leading to disruption of screenings. Reports also emerged of vandalism, with viewers demanding that the original version of the film be played.
"Songs, scenes, and dialogues are missing from the film. What are we supposed to do with this re-release? That's why fans are creating a ruckus," a fan wrote in Telugu on X, sharing a video of the chaos inside a theatre.
In another surprising incident, a fan brought a snake in the cinema hall to recreate a scene from Khaleja. In the film, Mahesh Babu walks with a snake in the desert scene. While viewers initially believed it to be a toy, panic ensued when the snake started moving.
After the video of the chaos went viral, exhibitors issued a statement defending themselves. They clarified that the version screened was what they had received from the makers. "We have seen a few tweets that mention missing scenes or songs. Please be aware and do not create unnecessary issues. Please understand," read the statement.
Later, the makers of Khaleja took to social media to clarify that matters have been resolved. "EVERYTHING SORTED. Enjoy Khaleja 4K to the fullest in theatres near you (sic)," they wrote. They assured fans that the missing scenes had been restored and the updated version would now be screened at all theatres.
