In recent days, Bollywood actor Arshad Warsi ignited intense debate across social media with his comments on the newly-released science fiction epic, “Kalki 2898 AD.” Specifically, Warsi described Prabhas’ character in the film as a ‘joker,’ a remark that did not sit well with the actor’s fans and colleagues in the film industry. The contentious clip quickly went viral, prompting reactions from numerous industry figures before the film’s director, Nag Ashwin, eventually addressed the issue publicly.
The controversy began when a fan tweeted a clip from “Kalki 2898 AD,” heralding a particular scene featuring Prabhas as being superior to the entirety of Bollywood. In his response, Nag Ashwin emphasized the importance of unity within the Indian film industry, discouraging divisive comparisons between Bollywood and the Telugu film industry. Ashwin urged everyone to focus on the larger picture—a unified Indian Film Industry. He remarked, “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 4 his kids..I’ll work hard so tweets fdfs (first day first show) that Prabhas was the best ever in k2💪.”
Nag Ashwin clarified that while Arshad Warsi could have phrased his critique more thoughtfully, it was not a significant issue for him. To extend an olive branch, Ashwin revealed he would send Bujji toys, modeled after the companion AI droid from the film, to Arshad’s children. He also promised to redouble his efforts to ensure that even Warsi would acknowledge Prabhas’ stellar performance in the forthcoming sequel to “Kalki 2898 AD.”
Ashwin continued his conciliatory tone when he responded to another tweet, advocating for more kindness and less animosity. “Too much hate in the world already bro..
..we can try not to add to it..I know prabhas garu will also feel the same…❤️” Ashwin tweeted, resonating with many fans who appreciated his mature, unifying stance.
This dispute followed Arshad Warsi’s comments from a podcast where he expressed disappointment over Prabhas’ portrayal in the sci-fi epic. Warsi stated, “I was sad that Prabhas was made to look like a joker in the film. Amit ji (Amitabh Bachchan) was unbelievable. 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?)“ Unsurprisingly, these remarks provoked a fierce backlash from social media users and members of the Telugu film industry.
Several prominent Tollywood figures, including actors Siddhu Jonnalagadda, Nani, and Sudheer Babu, along with director Ajay Bhupathi, openly criticized Warsi’s comment. In a significant escalation, Vishnu Manchu, President of the Movie Artists Association (MAA), addressed a letter to Poonam Dhillon, President of the Cine and TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA), condemning Warsi’s disparaging words.
Despite the criticism, Prabhas has not issued a statement on the matter. However, the release of “Kalki 2898 AD” continues to receive positive reactions overall. Boasting a stellar cast that includes Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone, and Disha Patani, the film premiered on June 27 in multiple languages including Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada. Directed by Nag Ashwin, the film features Amitabh Bachchan as the immortal Ashwatthama and Prabhas as Bhairava, a bounty hunter. Kamal Haasan portrays Supreme Yaskin, and Deepika Padukone appears as Sumathi.
The film, which has been praised for its impressive cinematography by Djordje Stojiljkovic and an engaging score by Santhosh Narayanan, also saw its editing masterfully handled by Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao. Produced by Vyjayanthi Movies, “Kalki 2898 AD” marked its 50th day in theaters this Independence Day and grossed over ₹1000 crore worldwide just 16 days post its release.
As the Indian film industry continues to navigate its dynamic and competitive landscape, debates like this serve to highlight the deep passion and divergent opinions among its stakeholders. Nonetheless, figures like Nag Ashwin remind us of the overarching importance of unity and mutual respect within this vibrant cinematic community.
