Nagma highlights personal circumstances in language use after Sanjay Dutt declines Marathi

Mumbai, September 10 – Following Sanjay Dutt’s refusal to speak Marathi during a Dahi Handi event in Thane, actress Nagma offered a broader view on why people choose to learn or avoid a language. She explained that her own command of Marathi stemmed from school education, family background, and everyday communication with a Marathi‑speaking household staff.

Nagma told a news agency, “When we were schooling, Marathi was part of the curriculum, so I learned it. My mother is from Maharashtra, and speaking with neighbours and our maid reinforced my skills. I have also acted in a Marathi film, which required me to use the language professionally.” She added that individual freedom of expression should not be questioned when it comes to language preference.

The actress’s comments arrive as Sanjay Dutt, who was invited to a Shiv Sena‑hosted Dahi Handi celebration, laughed off a request from party leader Pratap Sarnaik to address the audience in Marathi. Dutt’s reply, “I spent six years in Yerawada jail, yet I could not learn Marathi,” quickly became a talking point on social media, dividing opinion between cultural sensitivity and personal liberty.

Nagma and Dutt share a cinematic history that dates back to the 1992 film “Yalgaar,” where they played a married couple, and later a special appearance together in the 2000 comedy “Chal Mere Bhai.” Their past collaborations lend a nostalgic context to the present language debate.