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Actor Arshad Warsi‘s recent comment, describing Prabhas as looking like a ‘joker’ in the film ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, has ignited a firestorm of controversy that continues to escalate. The remarks, which have upset fans of Prabhas and stirred reactions from various members of the Telugu film industry, come amid the resurfacing of an old interview where Warsi expressed dismissive views about dubbed South Indian films.
In the interview clip that has gone viral on Reddit, Warsi can be seen referring to dubbed South Indian films as mere ‘time pass’. He comments on how his staff enjoys these movies for their mindless entertainment value, highlighting the exaggerated action and style, such as Superstar Rajinikanth’s signature cigarette-smoking flair. Warsi is heard saying, “All the staff at my house watch dubbed South Indian films. It is highly entertaining. Rajinikanth is such a big star, there must be a reason for it. In that cinema, you don’t have to think too much, wrack your brains. Cars are blasting, people are flying, cigarettes smoke in style. It’s all time pass. Eat popcorn, watch the film, and go home”.
The resurfacing of this clip has prompted backlash on social media, with many criticizing Warsi’s comments as uninformed and prejudiced. Some have pointed out that his characterization fails to acknowledge the depth and quality of many South Indian films, citing examples like ‘Jersey’, ‘Mahanati’, ‘Jai Bhim’, and ‘Super Deluxe’ which offer more than just mindless entertainment.
In response to the controversy, filmmaker Nag Ashwin, who directed ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, urged for a move away from divisive rhetoric. He suggested that Warsi should have chosen his words more carefully and emphasized the importance of focusing on the collective progress of the Indian film industry. Ashwin tweeted, “Let’s not go backwards. No more North-South or Bolly vs Tolly. Eyes on the bigger picture. United Indian Film Industry. Arshad saab should have chosen his words better, but it’s ok. Sending buji toys for his kids. I’ll work hard so he tweets FDFS that Prabhas was the best ever in Kalki 2”.
Meanwhile, ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, featuring a stellar cast including Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan, has emerged as the highest-grossing film of the year, surpassing Rs 1,000 crore globally.
In the interview clip that has gone viral on Reddit, Warsi can be seen referring to dubbed South Indian films as mere ‘time pass’. He comments on how his staff enjoys these movies for their mindless entertainment value, highlighting the exaggerated action and style, such as Superstar Rajinikanth’s signature cigarette-smoking flair. Warsi is heard saying, “All the staff at my house watch dubbed South Indian films. It is highly entertaining. Rajinikanth is such a big star, there must be a reason for it. In that cinema, you don’t have to think too much, wrack your brains. Cars are blasting, people are flying, cigarettes smoke in style. It’s all time pass. Eat popcorn, watch the film, and go home”.
The resurfacing of this clip has prompted backlash on social media, with many criticizing Warsi’s comments as uninformed and prejudiced. Some have pointed out that his characterization fails to acknowledge the depth and quality of many South Indian films, citing examples like ‘Jersey’, ‘Mahanati’, ‘Jai Bhim’, and ‘Super Deluxe’ which offer more than just mindless entertainment.
In response to the controversy, filmmaker Nag Ashwin, who directed ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, urged for a move away from divisive rhetoric. He suggested that Warsi should have chosen his words more carefully and emphasized the importance of focusing on the collective progress of the Indian film industry. Ashwin tweeted, “Let’s not go backwards. No more North-South or Bolly vs Tolly. Eyes on the bigger picture. United Indian Film Industry. Arshad saab should have chosen his words better, but it’s ok. Sending buji toys for his kids. I’ll work hard so he tweets FDFS that Prabhas was the best ever in Kalki 2”.
Meanwhile, ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, featuring a stellar cast including Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan, has emerged as the highest-grossing film of the year, surpassing Rs 1,000 crore globally.
