Nani reflects on his reaction to Arshad Warsi’s comments.
Nani admits he should have worded his response better after backlash over his comment on Arshad Warsi’s criticism of Prabhas in Kalki 2898 AD.
A day after stirring controversy with his response to Arshad Warsi’s criticism of Prabhas in the summer blockbuster Kalki 2898 AD, Telugu star Nani has admitted that he could have chosen his words more carefully. Warsi, during a conversation on ‘Unfiltered by Samdish,’ referred to Prabhas as a “joker” in Kalki, a comment that didn’t sit well with Nani.
Nani responded to Arshad’s comment in Telugu, saying, “The person that you’re referring to, this must be the most publicity he has got in his life. You are unnecessarily glorifying an unimportant matter.” While his words garnered applause from Prabhas’ fans, they sparked backlash among a section of the Hindi film audience.
Speaking with mid-day, Nani clarified that his reaction was a result of a misunderstanding, exacerbated by a poor translation. “I saw online when a language is translated into English, how it might sound. That always happens with social media,” Nani explained.
For Nani, the response was instinctive, driven by his admiration for Prabhas. However, after watching Warsi’s full interview, his perspective shifted. “I had only heard what he had commented because the cut clips were all over social media, just like mine was everywhere yesterday. When it’s about someone you love dearly, you naturally react and say, ‘Why give so much importance to an unimportant matter?’ But after seeing the reactions, I went back and watched the entire interview. Now, I understand it. The whole thing has been blown out of proportion by the media and social media, and my reaction was blown out of proportion too,” he said.
Nani emphasised the need for actors to be cautious when expressing opinions publicly. “Arshad Warsi ji is a very good actor, and we all loved him in Munna Bhai, not just in the north or south, but all over India. It’s a household movie. When we sit with our friends at home, we can rip films and actors apart. But as actors, we need to be extra careful with our words. In this case, both he and I are victims,” Nani shared.
In today’s internet-driven world, where no comment by a celebrity goes unnoticed, Nani believes that owning up to mistakes is crucial. “My choice of words was poor. The biggest thing you can do is accept your regret. But what I’m saying is that it sounds worse when translated. One comment can be blown out of proportion. If we slip up, it’s time we take responsibility, whether it’s me or someone else,” he concluded.
