‘6 Saal Jail Mein Bhi Nahi Seekhi’: Sanjay Dutt Dodges Maharashtra Minister’s Marathi Request

Actor Sanjay Dutt used his trademark humour to deflect an unexpected request from Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik at a recent event in Mumbai.

Dutt was on stage with Sarnaik on Sunday when the minister asked him to speak in Marathi. Instead of being caught off guard, the actor responded with a joke about his own inability to learn the language.

Sanjay Dutt Responds To Marathi Request

Videos from the event circulating on social media show Dutt and Sarnaik standing on stage with other dignitaries. At one point, Sarnaik said, “Aajkal main sab logon ko Marathi sikha raha hoon” (These days, I am teaching everyone Marathi).

The minister was referring to a recent ruling concerning autorickshaw drivers in Mumbai, under which drivers are required to have a functional understanding of Marathi phrases to continue working in the city. The move has sparked controversy.

Sarnaik then continued in Marathi, saying he wanted Dutt to speak in Marathi as well, noting that although the actor speaks Hindi, everyone present could understand Marathi.

Dutt took the microphone and replied, “Pratap bhai. Main 6 saal jail me raha, Yerwada mein. Tab bhi Marathi nahi seekh paaya. Main thoda seekha tha” (Pratap bhai, I spent six years in Yerwada Jail. Even then, I couldn’t learn Marathi. I learnt a little).

The actor then put his arm around Sarnaik, referring to him as an old friend and brother. He added that he was grateful to the minister for inviting him to the event and said their relationship goes back around 25 years.

Internet Reacts To Sanjay Dutt’s Remark

Dutt’s candid response drew mixed reactions online, with some users praising the actor for handling the situation with humour.

One user joked that only actors such as Dutt or Salman Khan could defy a minister in such a manner and still get away with it, while another praised Dutt for “ignoring it with style.”

Others highlighted the perceived irony of Dutt being able to avoid the issue while autorickshaw drivers face consequences for failing to meet the language requirement.

However, some users criticised the actor for not being able to speak Marathi despite having lived in Maharashtra for decades. One social media post pointed to his more than 50 years in Mumbai and his own admission that even his six-year stay at Yerwada Jail did not result in him learning the language.

Dutt was most recently seen in a cameo in the Arabic film 7 Dogs, where he shared the screen with Salman Khan. The film received a poor critical and commercial response.