Days after actor Arshad Warsi stirred controversy with remarks about Prabhas looking like a “joker” in Kalki 2898 AD, the film’s director Nag Ashwin has addressed the issue. Warsi’s comment, made during an appearance on the Unfiltered by Samdish podcast, sparked significant backlash from fans and industry figures alike.
In his original statement, Warsi expressed disappointment over Prabhas’s appearance in the sci-fi epic, lamenting, “Prabhas, I am really sad, why was he… he was like a joker. Why? I want to see a ‘Mad Max.’ I want to see Mel Gibson over there. Tumne usko kya bana diya yaar. Kyu karte hain aisa mujhe nahin samajh mein aata (What did you make him? Why do they do such things?).” While praising Amitabh Bachchan’s performance, Warsi’s comments about Prabhas quickly went viral, leading to strong reactions from fans and celebrities alike.
The controversy deepened when Vishnu Manchu, president of the Movie Artists Association (MAA), penned a letter to Poonam Dhillon, president of the Cine and TV Artistes’ Association (CINETAA), condemning Warsi’s remarks. Several prominent figures from the Telugu film industry, including actors Nani and Sudheer Babu and director Ajay Bhupathi, also voiced their disapproval.
Amid the growing criticism, Nag Ashwin took to X (formerly Twitter) to respond. Reacting to a fan’s post praising a scene from Kalki 2898 AD featuring Prabhas, Ashwin urged unity, saying, “Let’s not go backwards… no more north-south or bolly vs tolly (Bollywood vs Tollywood)… eyes on the bigger picture… united Indian film industry.” Addressing Warsi directly, Ashwin added, “Arshad saab (sir) should have chosen his words better… but it’s ok… sending Buji toys for his kids… I will work hard so tweets… that Prabhas was the best ever in K2.”
Kalki 2898 AD has been a massive box office success, crossing the ₹1,000 crore mark globally. The film, which stars Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone, and Disha Patani, is set in a dystopian future where darkness reigns supreme. Following its theatrical release on June 27, the film is now streaming on Netflix and Prime Video.
