Sanjay Dutt clarifies Marathi remarks as Maharashtra debate over language rules continues

Actor Sanjay Dutt contacted Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik to clarify his previous remarks about not learning Marathi in jail, labeling the statement a joke. He assured the minister of his fluency in Marathi and deep respect for Maharashtra. Dutt reminisced about Bal Thackeray's past assistance to his family and conveyed his apologies for any misunderstanding from his earlier comments.

Mumbai: Actor Sanjay Dutt on Thursday called Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik and clarified his remarks made at a Dahi Handi event in Thane, saying he had been joking and that he was well-versed in Marathi. Dutt began the conversation with “Pratap bhai, Jai Maharashtra” in Marathi and reportedly expressed regret if his remarks at the event had sent out a wrong message.Dahi Handi remarks spark debateSarnaik’s Sanskruti Yuva Pratishthan organises one of Maharashtra’s prominent Dahi Handi celebrations in Thane, which is attended by actors, political leaders and business personalities. This year, several celebrities, including Dutt, Suniel Shetty and cricketer Suryakumar Yadav, were present at the event.Samay Raina-Medha Shankr Dating Rumours: Fans Spot Same Background Clue, One Says ‘Seen Them In Switzerland’Against the backdrop of Sarnaik’s campaign emphasising the use of Marathi, Dutt had told the minister during the event that despite spending six years in Yerawada jail, he could not learn Marathi. The remark triggered discussions on social media, with some criticising the actor and others questioning whether only autorickshaw and taxi drivers were expected to learn Marathi.Also Watch:Dutt clarifies commentsFollowing the controversy, Dutt called Sarnaik on Thursday and clarified that his comment at the Dahi Handi was made in jest and that he could speak Marathi well. He said his family members were Mumbaikars and that he had grown up in Maharashtra, which had given him a lot.Dutt also recalled the late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray during the conversation, expressing gratitude for the Sena patriarch’s support to him and his family during their difficult times. He said Thackeray had stood firmly by them when they were going through a challenging phase.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/

Mumbai: Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Wednesday responded to criticism surrounding Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt's remarks about speaking Marathi, asserting that an actor cannot be forced to speak the language.Speaking to reporters, Sarnaik said, "We have a one-and-a-half-minute video of that Dahi Handi event. I will send you that video during our meeting. Please show it. Let people see how well Suniel Shetty spoke in Marathi, how Sanjay Dutt spoke in Marathi, how Badshah conversed in Marathi or how Suryakumar Yadav spoke in Marathi."Mumbai, Maharashtra: On actor Sanjay Dutt's viral video, Minister Pratap Sarnaik says, "We have a 1–1.5 minute video of that Dahi Handi event. I will send you that video during our meeting—please show it. Let people see how well Suniel Shetty spoke in Marathi, how Sanjay Dutt… pic.twitter.com/8DWbI54ul4— IANS (@ians_india) September 9, 2026 He said people watch Hindi films and are neither stopped from doing so nor forced to watch only Marathi films. He emphasised that every language and form of dialogue has its place in the country.Legal framework for driversReferring to taxi and autorickshaw drivers who have been asked to learn Marathi within a year, Sarnaik said they come under a legal framework that allows the government to insist on the requirement."However, for rickshaw and taxi drivers, we can insist, based on legal guidelines, that they communicate in Marathi," he said.Sarnaik stressed that actors, cricketers or ordinary passersby cannot be stopped and forced to speak only in Marathi."We can enforce rules on drivers within the framework of the law, but for others, we can only request: 'Please try to converse in Marathi'," Sarnaik said.BJP MLA Narendra Mehta Slams Pratap Sarnaik Over Sanjay Dutt’s Marathi Remark; Calls Him 'Dummy Minister'Sanjay Dutt's remarks draw attentionHis remarks came amid criticism over the enforcement of Marathi-language requirements for taxi and autorickshaw drivers but not for Bollywood stars such as Dutt, who reportedly refused to speak in Marathi.Dutt's remarks during a recent Dahi Handi celebration attracted attention after he spoke about his inability to learn Marathi despite having spent time in Pune.The actor was referring to his time at Pune's Yerwada Central Jail, saying that although he had picked up some Marathi, he had not been able to learn the language properly. His remark prompted Sarnaik to laugh.Dutt also thanked Sarnaik for inviting him to the event and spoke about their longstanding association.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/ 

Mumbai: A fresh political row has erupted in Maharashtra after Mira Bhayandar BJP MLA Narendra Mehta criticised state Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik over actor Sanjay Dutt's remarks about not knowing Marathi at a Dahi Handi event organised by the minister.During the celebrations, Sarnaik reportedly asked Dutt to speak in Marathi. The actor greeted the gathering by saying, “Tumha sarvanna namaskar,” before adding that despite spending six years in Pune's Yerwada jail, he could not learn Marathi. A video from the event showed Sarnaik smiling following Dutt's remark. Mehta seized on the incident to question what he described as a difference between the minister's treatment of celebrities and his approach towards ordinary auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers.Mehta Questions Sarnaik's ResponseIn a video message, Mehta said there was nothing wrong with Dutt not knowing Marathi, but questioned why people at the event laughed at the remark while poor auto-rickshaw drivers were allegedly threatened over language-related issues.“He doesn't know it, that's fine, I have no objection to that,” Mehta said, referring to Dutt's inability to speak Marathi. He then questioned Sarnaik's response, asking why the minister did not object when the comment was made at his own event while allegedly taking a different approach towards auto-rickshaw drivers. Mehta further alleged a difference between Sarnaik's words and actions and took a swipe at the minister by calling him a 'dummy minister.' He also invoked Shiv Sena chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde while criticising Sarnaik.Rohit Pawar Reacts To Sanjay Dutt's 'Couldn't Learn Marathi' Remark; Says 'It Was A Slap To Pratap Sarnaik' - VIDEO Marathi Language Campaign Sparks DebateThe controversy comes amid Sarnaik's campaign to promote the use of Marathi among auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers while communicating with passengers. The minister's push for Marathi language proficiency among drivers has already triggered political and public debate.Mehta's criticism has added a new political dimension to the issue, with the BJP MLA questioning whether the same language standards being advocated for ordinary transport workers should also apply to prominent personalities attending political events. However, the Maharashtra government has deferred the proposed Marathi language requirement for auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers in Mumbai and across the state by one year. To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/ 

Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar (SP) faction MLA Rohit Pawar has reacted to Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt's recent remarks about not being able to learn Marathi, saying the actor's statement is a slap in the face of Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik.In a video shared by news agency ANI on Tuesday, Pawar said Dutt had been invited to the event to attract a large crowd. He pointed out that Sarnaik was standing alongside the actor when the Minister said all of people, including autorickshaw drivers, should speak in Marathi.#WATCH | On actor Sanjay Dutt's statement on the Marathi language, NCP-SP MLA Rohit Pawar says, "When Sanjay Dutt came there, he was invited to gather as many people as possible. He came to the podium, and the minister who had done the Pratap Sarnaik was standing next to him, and… pic.twitter.com/W7ZUPx3a9T— ANI (@ANI) September 8, 2026 “He came to the podium, and the minister who had called him, Pratap Sarnaik, was standing next to him, and he raised the issue that everyone there, from auto drivers to others, should speak Marathi,” Pawar said.People living in Maharashtra should respect MarathiSpeaking about the importance of Marathi, Pawar said nobody should be forced to speak the language, but those living in Maharashtra should respect it.“Our role is that if you were born in Maharashtra, no matter what caste, religion, or state you belong to—whether you're from Gujarat, MP, or anywhere else—if you were born here or live in Maharashtra, you should respect Marathi. You should respect Maharashtra's religion. It doesn't matter whether Marathi comes or not,” Pawar said.Taking a dig at Sarnaik, Pawar accused the minister of politicising the language issue and said he had in return been “slapped” by his own guest at his own event through Dutt's remarks.Pawar further pointed out that Dutt had spent several years at Pune's Yerwada Central Jail but had still said he could not learn Marathi.What did Sanjay Dutt say?Dutt's remarks during a recent Dahi Handi celebration attracted attention after he spoke about his inability to learn Marathi despite the time he had spent in Pune.“Pratap bhai, main 6 saal jail mein raha, Yerwada mein. Tab bhi Marathi nahi seekh paaya. Main thoda seekha tha,” Dutt said.Sanjay Dutt admits that despite being in Yerwada Jail for 6 yrs, he still couldn’t learn Marathi.But Shiv Sena Minister standing next to him (who has passed Diktat for Non-Marathi Auto & Taxi drivers to speak Marathi) & "Great Marathi Warriors" Thackeray bros won't have any…— BhikuMhatre (@MumbaichaDon) September 6, 2026 The actor was referring to his time in Pune's Yerwada Central Jail, saying that although he had picked up some Marathi, he had not been able to learn the language properly. His remark prompted Sarnaik to laugh.Dutt also thanked Sarnaik for inviting him to the event and spoke about their longstanding association.Marathi language debate continuesThe exchange has since drawn attention amid the wider political debate surrounding the Marathi language in Maharashtra.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/