Kannada star Shivarajkumar has apologised for his recent remark referring to Hindi as the “national language”. The comment drew criticism on social media, following which the actor clarified that he had mistakenly used the wrong term while speaking about Indian languages.
Shivarajkumar explained that he intended to say Hindi is “one of the national languages”, but got confused while making the statement. He made the clarification during the promotion of his upcoming film ‘Original Monster’.
Shivarajkumar apologises for his remark
Speaking to the media, Shivarajkumar apologised for referring to Hindi as the national language. He clarified that he had meant to say Hindi is one of the languages spoken in India and admitted that he used the wrong term.
The actor said that Kannada remains the most important language for him and added that people naturally value their own language. He explained that Hindi is important to those who speak it, just as Kannada is important to Kannadigas.
How did the controversy begin?
The controversy started after an earlier statement by Shivarajkumar while he was discussing speaking Hindi dialogues for a pan-India film. At the time, he said Hindi was his second language and that he could speak it easily. He also referred to Hindi as the national language.
The comment received mixed reactions online. While some social media users criticised the actor for calling Hindi the “national language”, others defended him and felt that his statement was being taken out of context.
Why is the language issue sensitive in Karnataka?
The controversy comes amid a long-running debate over language in Karnataka. Many people in the state believe Kannada should have a stronger presence in public life, while the growing use of Hindi and English has led to concerns about the space given to the local language.
The issue became particularly heated when Kannada organisations demanded that signboards display Kannada prominently. Some groups also vandalised signboards written in Hindi and English, turning the language debate into a major public controversy.
Sanjay Dutt also faced backlash over Marathi remark
The language debate has also recently made headlines in Maharashtra. Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt faced criticism after refusing to speak Marathi at a Dahi Handi event in Mumbai.
The event was organised by Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader and Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik in Thane. Dutt was speaking in Hindi when Sarnaik asked him to speak in Marathi. The actor replied that despite spending six years in Yerwada Jail, he could not learn Marathi.
His remark sparked a fresh debate, with BJP MLA Narendra Mehta targeting Sarnaik and questioning why auto-rickshaw drivers are pressured to speak Marathi.
Sanjay Dutt and Maharashtra Minister Pratap Sarnaik.
BJP MLA targets Shiv Sena minister
On Sanjay Dutt’s statement, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Narendra Mehta raised questions on Pratap Sarnaik. Narendra Mehta said, “If an artist does not know Marathi, you laugh at it, but on the other hand, common rickshaw drivers are pressured regarding the Marathi language. What kind of justice is this? Eknath Shinde never let them do anything. A dummy minister is needed there, that is why they are there.”
Trolled on social media for not speaking Marathi
After Sanjay Dutt’s refusal to speak Marathi, a discussion started on social media. One user wrote, “Only Sanjay Dutt or Salman Khan can refuse a minister like this and still smile.”
One user wrote, “The meaning is clear, the mandatory nature of the Marathi language is only for the city’s auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers, not for big people.” One said, “Look at the irony, I wish the city’s auto drivers could also say this and avoid heavy fines.”
Some people are also trolling Sanjay Dutt for not speaking Marathi. One person said, “You have lived in Maharashtra your whole life, yet you don’t know Marathi. This is shameful.”
