Bollywood actor Aamir Khan found himself at the center of Maharashtra's language debate on Thursday. He voted in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections and spoke to media outside a polling booth.
Aamir's Marathi message and Hindi request
Aamir Khan first addressed the gathered crowd in Marathi. He urged citizens to exercise their voting rights. Reporters then asked him to repeat his message in Hindi for a national audience.
The actor responded with visible surprise. "Hindi mein? Yeh Maharashtra hai bhai," he remarked. This translates to "In Hindi? This is Maharashtra, brother."
Despite his initial reaction, Aamir Khan complied with the request. He delivered his message again in Hindi. He praised the BMC's polling arrangements and encouraged people to vote.
Netizens react to the exchange
Social media users quickly shared their opinions about the incident. Many detected sarcasm in Aamir Khan's response.
One user commented, "He is talking in a sarcastic way." Another wrote, "Some people don't even get his sarcasm?"
Critics also voiced their thoughts. A comment questioned, "So why does he make a film in Hindi?" This refers to Aamir Khan's career in Hindi cinema.
Aamir Khan's Marathi learning journey
The actor has previously discussed his relationship with the Marathi language. He learned Marathi in school but admitted he didn't pay proper attention.
At age 44, Aamir Khan realized he couldn't speak Marathi well. He described this as shameful since Marathi is Maharashtra's official language.
He hired a Marathi tutor and dedicated himself to learning. "Now, I am able to speak decent Marathi," he stated in a 2025 interview.
Maharashtra's broader language context
This incident occurred against a backdrop of linguistic tension in Maharashtra. The debate intensified during the BMC elections.
BJP leader Kripashankar Singh recently suggested a Hindi-speaking person could become Mumbai's mayor. This statement drew strong reactions from political figures.
Shiv Sena leaders Raj and Uddhav Thackeray called for Marathi unity. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended non-Marathi residents as integral to Mumbai.
BMC elections and Bollywood participation
Voting took place across 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra on Thursday. Results will be announced on Friday.
Major municipal bodies included Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Pune Municipal Corporation, and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.
Several Bollywood celebrities participated in the democratic process. The list included Akshay Kumar, Ranbir Kapoor, Gulzar, Twinkle Khanna, Nana Patekar, and Vishal Dadlani.
Aamir Khan's current projects
The actor last appeared in "Sitaare Zameen Par" in 2025. He has multiple productions lined up for release this year.
His upcoming projects include Vir Das-starrer "Happy Patel Khatarnaak Jasoos" and Sai Pallavi-Junaid Khan film "Ek Din." He is also producing Sunny Deol's "Lahore 1947."
Aamir Khan will star in director Lokesh Kanagaraj's upcoming film. His production house remains active with diverse cinematic ventures.
