Suniel Shetty on Marathi language debate: 'Don’t force me to speak Marathi, I will do it when I want to do it'

Suniel Shetty on Marathi language debate: 'Don’t force me to speak Marathi, I will do it when I want to do it'

• Suniel Shetty urges respect for language, not forced conformity in Mumbai.
• He values his Mangaluru roots while embracing Mumbai as his karmabhoomi.
• Shetty believes learning Marathi should be a choice, not an obligation.

Did our AI summary help?

Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty has once again sparked an important conversation around identity, language, and belonging in Mumbai, sharing a nuanced view on the Marathi language debate that refuses easy binaries. Speaking candidly, Shetty reflected on his roots, his journey, and why cultural pride should never come from coercion.

Recalling his early years, Shetty made it clear that leaving home did not mean leaving behind who he was. He said, “I moved out from here when I was very young, not to be something else and not to be someone else.” For the actor, migration was about opportunity, not erasure. His sense of self remained intact even as he built a life and career in Mumbai.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash (@podcast_ani)

That connection to home, he explained, still defines him today. “There is Mangaluru in everything that I do,” Shetty said, underlining how deeply his hometown influences his work, values, and worldview. Even after decades in the film industry, he believes that identity travels with you, shaping your choices rather than being replaced by geography.

When the conversation turned to Marathi, Shetty addressed a question he says he often hears. “When somebody says, what about Marathi? I say, what about Marathi?” he remarked, pushing back against the assumption that linguistic conformity should be automatic. He was particularly firm about resisting pressure. “No, you’ve got to speak Marathi. I said, I don’t have to do that. I will do it when I want to do it. Don’t force me to speak the language.”

However, Shetty was equally clear that this resistance does not come from disrespect. Acknowledging Mumbai as his karmabhoomi, he explained why learning Marathi still mattered to him. “If that’s my karmabhoomi, if I learn the language, I will be keeping a lot of people happy,” he said, framing language as a bridge rather than a test.

Also Read: After arrest on S*x abuse charges, Timothy Busfield to be digitally removed from upcoming Prime Video film

The actor ended on a note that blended confidence with quiet pride. “I speak better Marathi than probably most Maharashtrian kids do in Mumbai today,” he added, suggesting that choice-driven learning often leads to deeper engagement than obligation.

What emerges from Shetty’s words is a balanced philosophy. Language, for him, is about respect and relationship, not enforcement. Belonging is built through intent, effort, and mutual understanding, not fear of exclusion. In a city shaped by migrants and locals alike, his perspective offers a reminder that identities can coexist without competing, and that genuine acceptance is always voluntary, never forced.