A violent altercation during the screening of Pushpa 2 at a local theatre in Gwalior city of India's Madhya Pradesh state has resulted in a man’s ear being bitten off by a canteen staff member. The incident has drawn attention due to its similarity to a scene from the film in which the protagonist, Pushpa, fights back by biting his enemies.

According to Indian media, the altercation began during the intermission of the film when the victim, Shabbir Khan, got into an argument with canteen staff members, identified as Raju, Chandan, and MA Khan, over a food bill. The disagreement escalated into a physical fight, with one of the staff members reportedly biting Shabbir’s ear, causing significant bleeding. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he underwent minor surgery, receiving eight stitches to his ear.

Following the incident, Shabbir filed a complaint at a local Police Station. The crime has been compared to a scene in Pushpa 2, where Allu Arjun’s character, bound by hands and legs, bites his enemies to escape. The incident comes as Pushpa 2 continues to break multiple box office records, grossing over $94.5 million globally during its extended opening weekend.