Shilpa Shetty Calls Herself Maharashtra Chi Mulgi, Avoids Question On Marathi Language Row, Says ‘Aaj Hum Log…’

Shilpa Shetty recently handled a sensitive question about the Marathi language row with grace. She was at the teaser launch of her upcoming film KD The Devil in Mumbai on July 10. The event was organised to promote the action-packed film, but a journalist shifted focus to the ongoing language debate in Maharashtra.

The actress, known for staying calm under pressure, politely avoided getting into the political drama.

Shilpa Calls Herself a Daughter of Maharashtra

A reporter asked her about the threats made by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers. According to reports, MNS workers have allegedly forced people to speak Marathi in the state.

At first, Shilpa tried to sidestep the question. But then, with a smile, she said, “Mala Marathi maahit aahe. Me Maharashtrachi mulgi aahe.” This means, “I know Marathi. I am a daughter of Maharashtra.”

Even though Shilpa was born in Mangalore, Karnataka, and married Punjabi businessman Raj Kundra, she shared her deep bond with Maharashtra. She quickly turned the spotlight back on her film. She added, “Aaj hum log baat kar rhe hain KD ke baare mein. (But today, we are here to talk about KD.) If you're trying to stir controversy beyond the film, we won't encourage that.”

This statement won hearts online. Many fans praised her graceful reply. The video clips of the interaction are now going viral on social media.

Speaking about KD: The Devil, Shilpa explained that it is a multilingual project. She said, “Our movie is multilingual. Isko hum Marathi mein bhi dub kar sakte hai.” 

Sanjay Dutt (who stars alongside her) also chose not to comment on the controversy. He smiled and let Shilpa take charge of the conversation.

Shilpa Shetty and Sanjay Dutt on the Hindi-Marathi language dispute.

The question was posed by Priyanka from Jagran.#MarathiLanguageRow pic.twitter.com/CNq3PVwdsF

— Amit Karn (@amitkarn99) July 10, 2025

What Is The Marathi Language Debate About?

The Marathi language debate in Maharashtra has been a heated topic. It began when the state government planned to introduce Hindi as a third language in primary schools. This sparked protests from opposition parties and language groups.

Though the BJP-led government later withdrew the plan, tensions remain. Things escalated after Raj Thackeray, the chief of the MNS, spoke at a rally. He urged his party workers to ensure that non-Marathi speakers learn the language. He asked them to do this peacefully, but tensions on the streets rose after his speech.

About Shilpa Shetty Starrer KD: The Devil

Shilpa Shetty is making a powerful comeback with KD: The Devil, directed by Prem. Dhruva Sarja plays the lead role, along with Sanjay Dutt, Reeshma Nanaiah, Ramesh Aravind, and Ravichandran.

The teaser, released on July 10, gave a glimpse into the action-filled world of the 1970s. It introduced Dhruva Sarja as Kaali Dasa aka KD, and Sanjay Dutt as Dhak Deva. The teaser is available in five languages -Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam.