Several people were injured as fans gatecrashed a reality show featuring south-Indian film superstar Mammootty in Dubai on Friday night, media reports said Monday.

The stampede took place after more than 15,000 fans of the 56-year-old star tried to crowd into Dubai Airport Expo Venue, which can hold only half as many, to watch the final episode of reality show , The Best Actor Award 2009. Police had to be called in after the 70-member security staff at the venue failed to manage the crowd, National newspaper reported Monday.

Asianet, organiser of the show, said “things got completely out of control” as they were not prepared for that big a crowd. Asianet has agreed to refund those “who could prove they were turned away despite having the ticket”.

“We have successfully done several events before but this time things got completely out of control,” said Bindhu

Menon, Asianet’s Middle East General Manager. “Apart from the people who had already purchased tickets, there were thousands of others who were there to get tickets.” She confirmed people were injured in the stampede.

Even Mammootty, Menon said, “faced difficulty in entering the venue as public mobbed his car”. “The stars had to come through the same entry points. Even Mammootty’s car was stopped and people were all over the car. It had become a major issue,” she said. “Mammootty was even thinking of returning due to this but he stayed and finally gave a great show.”