'Film proved itself': 'Kalki' producer on Arshad's 'joker' comment
Kalki 2898 AD producer Swapna Dutt has come out in support of her brother-in-law and the film's director, Nag Ashwin, following his response to actor Arshad Warsi's remarks about Prabhas's character in the film. In a recent interview with News18, Dutt praised Ashwin's handling of the situation and lauded Prabhas for his performance in the film. She also highlighted the importance of maintaining composure in such situations.
Dutt praises Ashwin's response, Prabhas's performance
Dutt expressed admiration for Ashwin's reaction to Warsi's comments, stating, "I loved the way Nagi reacted to it. We stayed calm because the film proved for itself what it is." She also commended Prabhas's performance in the film, describing it as "fantastic." Dutt added, "We've to give it to the magnanimity of Nag Ashwin and Prabhas. They're just so easy on these things." "[Ashwin] only wished that he (Arshad) used better language."
Warsi's 'joker' comment about Prabhas sparked controversy
The controversy began when Warsi, during an appearance on the Unfiltered by Samdish podcast, referred to Prabhas's character as a "joker" in Kalki 2898 AD. He expressed his disappointment with the actor's portrayal in the film, stating, "I want to see a Mad Max. I want to see Mel Gibson over there. What did you make him? Why do they do such things?"
Ashwin urges unity in Indian film industry
In response to Warsi's comments, Ashwin took to X (formerly Twitter) to promote unity within the Indian film industry. He wrote, "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." He also mentioned that Warsi should have chosen his words better, but assured that he would work hard for the film's sequel.
'Kalki 2898 AD' emerges as a box office success
Kalki 2898 AD, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Prabhas, and Kamal Haasan, has been a major box office success since its release on June 27. The film, which is a fusion of the Hindu epic Mahabharata and science fiction, has grossed over ₹1100 crore worldwide. It is produced by Vyjayanthi Movies and has been hailed as one of the biggest films of 2024. It's streaming on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
