Vishnu Manchu to CINETAA Led by Poonam Dhillon: ‘Arshad Warsi’s Comment on Prabhas Has Hurt Sentiments’

The controversy over Arshad Warsi’s remarks about Prabhas’ character in Nag Ashwin’s *Kalki 2898 AD* continues to escalate. Following criticisms from Siddu Jonnalagadda, Nani, and Sudheer Babu, Vishnu Manchu, president of the Movie Artistes Association (MAA), has addressed the issue directly in a letter to Poonam Dhillon, president of the Cinema & TV Artists Association (CINETAA).

In his letter, Manchu Vishnu expressed that the comment has caused “significant concern” within the Telugu film industry. He emphasized, “While we respect everyone’s right to express their opinions, it is regrettable that Arshad Warsi’s remarks about actor Prabhas were belittling. His comments have hurt the sentiments of many within the Telugu film community and among fans.”

Manchu Vishnu further noted that in the era of social media, “every word can rapidly escalate into widespread debate,” and emphasized that as a public figure, Arshad Warsi should have “exercised caution in his expressions.” He added, “Arshad Warsi’s comments have unfortunately generated unnecessary negativity among cinema enthusiasts and within our industry.” Vishnu also requested that Warsi be advised to avoid making such remarks about fellow actors in the future, stressing the importance of maintaining the dignity and respect that every colleague deserves, irrespective of their regional background.

**What Arshad Warsi Said**

During a discussion with Samdish on his podcast, Arshad Warsi expressed his views on Prabhas’ character Bhairava in *Kalki 2898 AD*. Warsi described the character as resembling a “joker,” stating, “I am really sad. Prabhas was like a joker. I want to see a Mad Max. I want to see Mel Gibson there. What have you turned him into? Why do they do this? I just don’t understand.” His comments quickly sparked backlash from Prabhas’ fans, who took offense and began attacking Arshad Warsi for his opinion.