Arjun Kapoor used to people making fun of him, but says it is unfair to crack jokes on historical characters

Since the posters of the historical drama Panipat were released, the digital world is buzzing with extreme reactions. While some have observed the film’s lavish look, trolls and memes have also been in the forefront too, with lead actor, Arjun Kapoor being the centre of all the ‘jokes’.

Arjun feels it is unfair to crack jokes on historical characters and martyrs who laid their lives down for the country. In the historical drama, based on the third Battle of Panipat, Arjun Kapoor plays Sadashivrao Bhau, the great Maratha warrior who had fought Afghan invader Ahmad Shah Abdali.

“Everybody gets trolled. I think now it has become habitual for people to be negative and bitter, probably because whatever they might be dealing with in their personal lives. It reflects badly on the way they have been brought up or the way they are,” Arjun said, at a promotional event ahead of the film’s release, when quizzed on how he reacts to memes flooding the internet.

The actor added he doesn’t mind being the subject of trolls and has even made fun of himself on several occasions. But he finds it unacceptable when people create memes on historical characters and heroes who have served our nation.

“I don’t mind if people make fun of me, but if you are making fun of this film, then you are making fun of people who have sacrificed themselves for India. See, I have done roast and made fun of myself. I don’t have any issues. I am used to people making fun of me. I have laughed at many of these in the past, even when Half Girlfriend released. But it is unfair to crack jokes on historical characters, on martyrs. We should not forget the sacrifice that these men made,” he said.

He also emphasised that while other national heroes like Subhas Chandra Bose or Bhagat Singh are never made fun of, a great historical warrior like Sadashivrao Bhau has become the target of trolls, and nobody is protesting.

Arjun did not even appreciate netizens comparing Ashutosh Gowariker’s project with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani.

Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, the large scale history drama film will have a star caste of actors including Kriti Sanon, Sanjay Dutt, Zeenat Aman, Padmini Kolhapure, Suhasini Mulay and others. The film will be releasing on December 6.