“Why would he say that?”: Priyadarshan admits Arshad Warsi’s Hulchul remark pained him

Filmmaker Priyadarshan has finally reacted to Arshad Warsi’s recent comments about Hulchul, and his response reveals genuine shock and disappointment. What began as a candid interview clip has now snowballed into a full-blown conversation about expectations, misunderstandings, and creative memories tied to one of the early 2000s’ popular comedies.

Priyadarshan reacts with shock and hurt

In a recent interaction with Midday, Priyadarshan shared that Arshad’s statement came as a complete surprise to him. The director admitted he felt upset after reading the actor’s remarks, adding that he hopes they may have been misunderstood. What hurt him most was Arshad referring to Hulchul as a “flop” and a bad experience, despite the film doing well commercially and being appreciated by audiences.

Priyadarshan recalled that after the film’s release, Arshad had personally called him to express gratitude for the role and the response it received. According to the filmmaker, Arshad had even said he never expected such appreciation. This contrast between past feedback and present remarks left Priyadarshan deeply pained, especially since he believes there was no reason for complaint.

What exactly did Arshad Warsi say?

The controversy started when Arshad Warsi spoke to The Lallantop last month and described Hulchul as a disappointing experience. He revealed that he had agreed to the film based on a pitch from writer Neeraj Vora, who allegedly told him his role would be similar to Akshay Kumar’s iconic part in Hera Pheri. Expecting a strong, central character, Arshad said he was shocked to realise on set that his role was actually that of a sidekick.

Arshad clarified that Priyadarshan was not responsible for this confusion, as the director was unaware of the initial pitch. He explained that the gap between what he was promised and what he eventually performed led to his frustration with the project.

Revisiting Hulchul and its legacy

Released in 2004, Hulchul was a Hindi remake of the Malayalam film Godfather. The comedy featured a massive ensemble cast including Kareena Kapoor, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Jackie Shroff, Amrish Puri, Arbaaz Khan, and others. While the film continues to be fondly remembered by audiences, the recent exchange has reopened old chapters, reminding everyone how differing perspectives can shape memories long after the cameras stop rolling.