Nani regrets criticising Arshad Warsi’s 'Prabhas was like a joker' comment: ‘It sounds worse…’

A day after sparking controversy with his response to Arshad Warsi's criticism of Prabhas in ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, Telugu star Nani has admitted he could have chosen his words more carefully.

Warsi, in an interview on ‘Unfiltered by Samdish,’ described Prabhas as a ‘joker’ in the Nag Ashwin directorial, which upset Nani.

Nani had replied in Telugu, ‘The person you’re referring to is likely getting the most publicity of his life. You’re unnecessarily glorifying a minor issue.’

While his response was praised by Prabhas’ fans, it faced backlash from some in the Hindi film industry.

In an interview with mid-day, Nani explained that his reaction to Arshad Warsi’s comments about Prabhas stemmed from a misunderstanding and poor translation.

‘I noticed how translations into English can sometimes distort the original meaning. This often happens on social media,’ Nani said.

His response was instinctive, fuelled by his admiration for Prabhas. However, after watching Warsi’s full interview, Nani’s view changed.

‘I initially saw only the cut clips circulating on social media, which prompted my reaction. When it involves someone you care about, you naturally react strongly and question why an insignificant matter is being highlighted. But after viewing the entire interview, I realized the situation was blown out of proportion by the media and social media, and my reaction was also exaggerated,’ he explained.

Nani stressed the importance of being cautious with public statements.

‘Arshad Warsi ji is a talented actor, admired across India for Munna Bhai. While it’s normal to discuss films and actors with friends, as actors, we must be careful with our words. In this case, both Warsi and I were caught up in the media storm,’ he noted.

In today’s digital age, where every comment is scrutinized, Nani believes acknowledging mistakes is vital.

‘My choice of words was not ideal. Accepting regret is crucial. Misinterpretations can amplify comments, and it's important to take responsibility for our words, whether it's me or anyone else,’ he concluded.

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