Renuka Shahane Makes BIG Statement Amid Hindi-Marathi Conflict: 'I Do Not Like People Who...'

News18

17-07-2025

Renuka Shahane voiced her strong views on linguistic inclusivity and cultural respect, especially in Mumbai.
Renuka Shahane has expressed her opinion on the rising issues of the language conflict between Hindi and Marathi in Maharashtra. Recently, the actress, who also hails from Maharashtra, appeared on the podcast 'InControversial with Pooja Chaudhri', when she voiced her strong views on linguistic inclusivity and cultural respect, especially in Mumbai.
'If you are in a place for a very long time, it's a good thing to understand the local language, the local culture and be respectful more than anything else…It's not about the speaking of it, much more than the intention of wanting to, you know, respect it. I do not like people who do not feel the necessity to be accommodating of the local language and local culture," Renuka said.
'I do not like violence at all, you know; I do not like the fact that people can be rude about it. Going into a place where Marathi is not spoken and just slapping two or three people, it's not going to help the language in any way," the actress added.
This comes at a time when a new debate over language is brewing in Maharashtra – speak Marathi if you live in the state. It all started in April this year when the Maharashtra government passed a decision to make Hindi a compulsory third language in schools. While the decision was rolled back, several incidents have been reported where alleged MNS workers got into a heated argument with people in Mumbai and Pune who refused to speak Marathi.
Recently, Janhvi Kapoor's boyfriend, Shikhar Pahariya, also argued that even though any language, including Marathi, must be preserved, it cannot be at the cost of someone else's dignity. 'As someone from Solapur, I understand this deeply. Language shapes who we are, it has shaped our states, our stories, given us poets, songs, and revolutions. Marathi is no exception. It must be preserved, protected, and passed on, just like all of our languages. But that pride cannot come at the cost of others' dignity. Especially others who are making an honest, hard living," he wrote on his social media.
First Published:
July 17, 2025, 13:22 IST
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