Arshad Warsi recently addressed the backlash he received over his “joker” comment about actor Prabhas, revealing whether it has made him more cautious with his public statements. In an interview with India Today, Arshad admitted this was the first time he felt he was on the wrong side of a controversy. He acknowledged that “anything negative” can affect a positive person, stating, “Honestly, it’s okay. Everyone has their point of view. We live in a democratic country where everyone is entitled to express themselves. However, having faced harsher criticism before, I’m less affected by negativity now.”
Following the controversy, Arshad disabled his social media comments section, which he later said he didn’t actually know how to do. When asked if the incident made him more wary about speaking publicly, he humorously responded, “Absolutely, I’ve decided to love every film I watch and every actor for the rest of my life!”
The incident stemmed from comments Arshad made during a podcast with Samdish Bhatia, where he mentioned the film “Kalki 2898 AD” and remarked on Prabhas’ portrayal, saying he felt the actor resembled a joker. He expressed disappointment, longing for a more impactful performance akin to Mel Gibson in “Mad Max,” and questioned the direction taken in the film.
In response, several figures in the Telugu film industry criticized Arshad’s choice of words. Actors like Nani and Sudheer Babu, along with director Ajay Bhupathi, suggested he could have been more considerate in his remarks. Director Nag Ashwin also chimed in on social media, indicating that while Arshad’s words could have been better chosen, he bore no ill will, even sending toys to Arshad’s children.
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Looking ahead, Arshad is set to entertain audiences with his role in “Jolly LLB 3,” and he will also feature in “Banda Singh Chaudhary,” produced by Arbaaz Khan and co-starring Meher Vij.
