Priyadarshan 'deeply hurt' by Arshad Warsi's criticism of Hulchul: 'Was very upset and shocked'

For those who love Bollywood comedies from the slapstick era, Priyadarshan's 2004 multi-starrer Hulchul remains a staple. After a botched attempt to sneak into a house, one of the most iconic sequences is Arshad Warsi, who plays Lucky Bhalla, hanging from a tree. He then falls into boiling glue and a pile of dried leaves. Despite the scene's continued popularity, Warsi recently came clean about his less-than-ideal experience filming it.

How did Arshad Warsi describe his experience working on the film Hulchul?

The actor recently called his time shooting Hulchul a "bad experience" in an interview with The Lallantop. He asserts that when screenplay and dialogue writer Neeraj Vora approached him with the script, he had a much larger role in mind.

Warsi claimed Vora had first compared the role to Akshay Kumar's role in the cult hit Hera Pheri from 2000. On the other hand, Vora cast the actor as the friend of the lead actor, Akshaye Khanna. In addition, he was perplexed by the artistic decisions made throughout the production, mentioning an incident in particular when he was handed an unusual, baggy shirt to wear.

ALSO READ: Arshad Warsi recalls his 'bad experience' while filming Hulchul: 'My inner woman was coming out'

How has Priyadarshan reacted to Arshad Warsi’s public criticism?

The filmmaker, who is in the middle of post-production of his next film Haiwaan (which stars Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar), in an interview with Mid Day, has spoken out strongly about how upset he is by Warsi's public criticism. Priyadarshan found the actor's recent criticisms surprising, given the positive reception both reviewers and audiences showed for Lucky Bhalla.

"I was very upset [when I read what he said]. I could be wrong, and maybe it has been misinterpreted, but if he has [complained], I am shocked," Priyadarshan told the tabloid.

What was Hulchul's box office performance?

Warsi also claimed that the film bombed, which the filmmaker denied. Hulchul was a smashing success during its release window, according to records, earning almost Rs 31 crore at the box office. In contrast to the actor's recent claims, Priyadarshan remembered a conversation in which he made a different point.

After the release, he called and told me, ‘Priyan sir, I never thought that I would get this kind of appreciation.’ Hulchul was a big hit, but Arshad said it was a flop film. That has pained me; why would he say that when it was one of my hit films?" the filmmaker added.

What impact did Hulchul have on Arshad Warsi's career trajectory?

Even though Warsi's career took a dramatic turn after 2003's Munna Bhai MBBS, Priyadarshan thinks that Hulchul was pivotal in establishing the actor's fame for brilliant comedic timing. A large ensemble cast, including Akshaye Khanna, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Jackie Shroff, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Arbaaz Khan, and Shakti Kapoor, were all part of the film.

The actor's retroactive discontent is difficult to accept, Priyadarshan said, because the film's continuous interest from the public indicates its value. He concluded by saying, "People loved and appreciated his performance in Hulchul. I am very upset and deeply hurt by these accusations from Arshad. He had no reason to complain."

Hulchul FAQs:

Q: What did Arshad Warsi say about the movie Hulchul?

A: In a recent interview with The Lallantop, Arshad Warsi described his experience filming the 2004 movie Hulchul as a “bad experience.”

Q: Was Hulchul a hit or a flop?

A: Despite Arshad Warsi’s recent claims that the film was a flop, Hulchul (2004) was a commercial success. It earned approximately Rs 31 crore at the box office against its budget, marking it as a hit during its theatrical run.

Q: Who was in the cast of the 2004 movie Hulchul?

A: Hulchul featured a massive ensemble cast including Akshaye Khanna and Kareena Kapoor Khan in the lead roles. The supporting cast included Arshad Warsi, Suniel Shetty, Jackie Shroff, Paresh Rawal, Amrish Puri, Arbaaz Khan, and Shakti Kapoor.