Veteran actress Nagma weighed in on the controversy surrounding Sanjay Dutt’s recent refusal to address a Dahi Handi gathering in Marathi, saying the debate should not be framed as a question of free speech.
Speaking to IANS from Mumbai, Nagma recounted how she learned Marathi in school, noting that the language was part of the curriculum when she lived in Maharashtra, and that her mother and household help also spoke the language, giving her everyday exposure.
ALSO READ | Kareena Kapoor Praises Gulzar's Lyrics for Intense Impact in New Song "Sach Ka Daayra"
She emphasized that language acquisition depends on individual circumstances, adding that she has even acted in a Marathi film, which further reinforced her fluency.
The controversy erupted after Dutt, a guest at a Shiv Sena‑organized event in Thane, began his speech in Hindi. When Shiv Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik asked him to switch to Marathi, Dutt laughed and replied, “I spent six years in Yerwada Jail, but still I could not learn Marathi,” before continuing in Hindi.
Dutt’s remark quickly ignited a social‑media firestorm and prompted political commentary, with some demanding an apology and others defending his right to speak any language he chooses.
Nagma, who shared the screen with Dutt in the early 1990s action drama “Yalgaar” and later in David Dhawan’s “Chal Mere Bhai,” said, “I don’t think we should say anything on freedom of speech,” suggesting that the issue is more about personal choice than constitutional rights.
Historically, language politics have often been weaponised in Indian public life, from the anti‑Hindi agitations in the South to the push for regional language promotion in the North, making this episode another flashpoint in a long‑standing cultural debate.
