Bollywood actor Arshad Warsi has finally responded to the backlash he faced over his comment on Prabhas’ character in the highly anticipated film Kalki 2898 AD. A month ago, Arshad described Prabhas’ portrayal in the movie as “like a joker” during an appearance on a podcast, sparking a huge controversy. Fans of the Baahubali star and several figures from the Telugu film industry, including Nani and Sudheer Babu, strongly criticized Arshad’s remarks, interpreting them as disrespectful toward the popular actor.
At the IIFA Awards 2024, held in Abu Dhabi, Arshad Warsi finally addressed the issue for the first time. Speaking to the media, he clarified that his comments were misunderstood. He explained that his statement was about the character and not the actor himself. “Everybody has their own point of view, and people like to make noise,” Arshad said. “I spoke about the character, not the person. Prabhas is a brilliant actor, and he has proved himself again and again. But when you give a bad character to a good actor, it’s heartbreaking for the audience.”
In the podcast where the controversy originated, Arshad expressed his disappointment with Prabhas’ character in Kalki 2898 AD, stating that he expected a more rugged, intense portrayal, akin to Mel Gibson’s iconic character in Mad Max. “I am really sad, why was he like a joker? I want to see a Mad Max, I want to see Mel Gibson over there,” Arshad had said, adding that he was confused by the filmmakers’ choice.
While his words stirred up emotions among fans, Kalki 2898 AD director Nag Ashwin responded diplomatically, acknowledging that Arshad “should have chosen his words better” but also noting that the comment was not meant to insult Prabhas directly. Ashwin promised to work hard on presenting Prabhas in a stronger light for his future projects.
Arshad concluded his IIFA interview by emphasizing that Indian cinema should be united across languages and industries. He also mentioned his hopes of working with actors from different regions of the country and hinted at the possibility of Munnabhai 3 coming to life.
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