Mumbai: Arshad Warsi, a well-known Bollywood actor, has found himself in hot water after making controversial remarks about South Indian superstar Prabhas. During an interview, Arshad referred to Prabhas’ character in the film Kalki 2898 AD as a “joker,” a comment that has sparked outrage among fans and the South Indian film community.
Released on June 27, Kalki 2898 AD quickly became a hit, featuring a star-studded cast including Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan. However, Arshad’s comment about Prabhas’ role has led to intense backlash, with fans of the South Indian actor taking to social media to express their anger. The situation escalated to the point where Arshad’s family became a target of online trolls.
Arshad’s Family Targeted by Trolls
The controversy took a personal turn when Arshad posted a family photo on social media, featuring his wife Maria Goretti and their daughter. Prabhas’ fans flooded the comments section with derogatory remarks, questioning Arshad’s stature and demanding an apology to Prabhas. In response to the overwhelming negativity, Arshad was forced to disable comments on the post to protect his family from further harassment.
Read: Prabhas Fans Clash with Arshad Warsi Over Controversial Comment on ‘Kalki 2898 AD’
The Controversial Comment
Arshad’s troubles began during an interview with the popular YouTube channel Unfiltered by Samdish. In the interview, Arshad shared his disappointment after watching Kalki 2898 AD, particularly criticizing Prabhas’ role. He remarked, “He looked like a joker. Why? I want to see a Mad Max yaar.” While Arshad praised Amitabh Bachchan’s performance in the film, his harsh critique of Prabhas did not sit well with fans.
Support for Prabhas
Arshad’s comment did not go unnoticed by the South Indian film industry. Telugu actor Sudheer Babu, who is also Mahesh Babu’s brother-in-law, publicly criticized Arshad for his lack of professionalism. Sudheer emphasized that it is inappropriate to speak ill of others in such a manner. South superstar Nani also weighed in, suggesting that Arshad’s controversial comment might have given him the biggest publicity of his career.
Read: Arshad Warsi Returns: Reuniting with Rajkumar Hirani for an Exciting OTT Cyber-Crime Thriller
Arshad’s Upcoming Projects
Despite the backlash, Arshad is continuing with his professional commitments. He is currently busy shooting for his upcoming film Jolly LLB 3, where he will be sharing the screen with Akshay Kumar and Huma Qureshi. The film, which is being shot in Ajmer and Rajasthan, is slated for release in April 2025.
Meanwhile, Kalki 2898 AD, directed by Nag Ashwin, continues to perform well at the box office, with Prabhas playing the role of Bhairava in the film. The controversy surrounding Arshad’s comment has only added to the buzz surrounding both actors and their respective projects.
