Mumbai: Actor Aamir Khan entered the ongoing language debate in Maharashtra after a brief exchange with reporters outside a polling booth during the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections. After casting his vote, the actor urged residents to participate in the civic polls and praised the arrangements. He delivered his appeal in Marathi.
When reporters requested the same message in Hindi, Aamir Khan smiled and replied, “Hindi mein? Yeh Maharashtra hai, bhai.” When informed his message would reach audiences outside the state, including Delhi, he acknowledged it and repeated his appeal, urging citizens to vote.
The remark surfaced amid heightened political tensions over language identity in Maharashtra. The issue gained momentum after a senior BJP leader stated a Hindi speaker would become Mumbai’s mayor. The comment triggered sharp reactions from leaders associated with Marathi regional politics.
Shiv Sena leaders Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, who reunited recently after many years, criticised attempts to sideline Marathi identity. Raj Thackeray appealed to Marathi voters to remain united during the elections. He warned against internal divisions and stressed the role of Marathi speakers in shaping Mumbai.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responded by assuring non Marathi speakers of safety and dignity in the city. He described North Indian families as integral to Mumbai’s social fabric. He accused regional leaders of targeting working class groups for political visibility.
Several film personalities participated in voting across the state. Members of Aamir Khan’s family, along with actors Akshay Kumar, Twinkle Khanna, Nana Patekar, Vishal Dadlani, and Suniel Shetty, were seen at polling booths.
Voting is underway across 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including Mumbai and Pune. Polling began in the morning and will conclude in the evening. Counting is scheduled for the following day.
