Sanjay Dutt refuses Maharashtra minister's request to speak in Marathi at event

Actor Sanjay Dutt sidestepped a request to speak in Marathi at an event in Mumbai on Sunday, where he shared the stage with Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik. Videos of the exchange circulating on social media show Dutt brushing off the request with a self-deprecating joke about his time in jail, while other dignitaries looked on.

Speaking into the microphone, Dutt said, “Pratap bhai. Main 6 saal jail me raha, Yervada mein. Tab bhi Marathi nahi seekh paaya. Main thoda seekha tha. (I was in the Yervada Jail for six years, and even there I didn’t learn Marathi. I learnt a little).” He then put his arm around Sarnaik and added, “Main Pratap bhai ka aabhaari hoon ki mujhe yahan bulaye. Hamara rishta bahut purana hai, 25 saal ho gaye hain (I am grateful to Pratap bhai for calling me here. We go way back, almost 25 years).”

Earlier, Sarnaik told the audience, “Aajkal main sab logon ko Marathi sikha raha hoon (These days, I am teaching everyone Marathi).”

Referring to his department’s recent ruling that autorickshaw drivers in Mumbai need a functional understanding of Marathi phrases to continue to work in the city, he continued in Marathi, “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.” The ruling has stirred controversy across the city.

The on-stage exchange drew laughs before Dutt moved on from the language request by thanking Sarnaik, whom he called an old friend and brother.

Meanwhile, Dutt was most recently seen in a cameo in the Arabic film 7 Dogs (2026), in which he shared the screen with Salman Khan.

His last theatrical release was director Abhijeet Mohan Warang's political drama Aakhri Sawal (2026). The film also featured actors Namashi Chakraborty, Amit Sadh, Tridha Choudhary and Sameera Reddy in key roles.