Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt recently found himself at the center of a light-hearted yet widely discussed exchange during a public event in Mumbai. Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik requested Dutt to speak in Marathi, leading to a humorous and now viral response from the actor.
Minister Encourages Marathi Usage
During the event, Minister Sarnaik spoke about his efforts to encourage Marathi language use, referencing a recent departmental decision requiring Mumbai autorickshaw drivers to have a functional understanding of Marathi phrases. He then turned to Sanjay Dutt, expressing his desire for the actor to speak in the regional language, noting, "So I thought after his entry, let us all get Sanjay Dutt to talk in Marathi. He speaks in Hindi, but all of us understand Marathi." This comment elicited laughter from the audience.
Sanjay Dutt's Humorous Retort
In his characteristic candid style, Dutt addressed Sarnaik as "Pratap bhai" and recalled his six-year stay at Yerwada Jail. With a self-deprecating joke, he stated, "Main 6 saal jail me raha, Yerwada mein. Tab bhi Marathi nahi seekh paaya." (I stayed in Yerwada Jail for 6 years, still couldn't learn Marathi.) He then added, "Main thoda seekha tha" (I did learn a little), further amusing the attendees.
Online Reactions and Broader Debate
Videos of the exchange quickly circulated on social media, drawing widespread online attention. While many users appreciated Dutt's humor and his handling of the situation, others questioned why the actor, despite having lived in Mumbai for over 50 years, had not become fluent in Marathi.
This viral moment has also contributed to a broader ongoing discussion regarding the use of Marathi in Mumbai, particularly in light of Minister Sarnaik's department's language requirements for autorickshaw drivers, a policy that has itself generated mixed reactions.
Dutt's Continuing Career
Professionally, Sanjay Dutt remains active in the film industry. He was recently seen portraying police officer SP Chaudhary Aslam in Dhurandhar: The Revenge and made a cameo appearance in the Arabic film 7 Dogs, sharing the screen with Salman Khan.