‘If I say I had chicken biryani, I’d be told to stay in Pakistan’

Actor Arshad Warsi (right), who played a truthseeking lawyer in Jolly LLB (2013), doesn’t feel comfortable giving an opinion about the current state of affairs in the country, be it political or social issues.

In fact, Arshad is so very uncomfortable that he stops and stammers, when even talking about it with us over the phone. “Look how nervous I’m right now to even talk to you about it,” says the actor. “That’s how uncomfortable I am when it comes to making my opinion on different matters public, either on social media or otherwise.”

Arshad says that a celebrity is not spared, and is bullied mercilessly on social media. Therefore, he doesn’t think it’s safe to be opinionated in public. “Honestly, I don’t know why others are doing it. But I know that even if I tweet that I had chicken biryani for lunch, I’ll be told to stay in Pakistan. That’s the fear,” he says. “Every time you say something, you get trolled for it so badly. It’s not even worth it. That’s why I stay away, and I’m happy.”

Unlike other celebrities who give it back to their critics, Arshad reveals that he is afraid of confrontations. “I’m not the kind of guy who fights,” says the actor, who hit a high point in his career playing the character of Circuit, the good-natured goonda who is the henchman of the golden-hearted gangster Munnabhai (played by Sanjay Dutt in two superhit films).

“I don’t fight at home,” adds Arshad. “I don’t fight at work, while shooting or otherwise. I just don’t like the idea of fighting. ‘Live and let others live’ is my motto,” he laughs.

Look how nervous I’m right now to even talk to you about it. That’s how uncomfortable I am when it comes to making my opinion public, either on social media or otherwise ARSHAD WARSI, ACTOR