Actor Renuka Shahane has weighed in on the ongoing language debate in Maharashtra, urging people to respect local languages and cultures while firmly opposing any form of aggression in the name of linguistic pride. The 58-year-old, who hails from Maharashtra, shared her thoughts on the tensions that have emerged between Hindi and Marathi speakers in the state.

“If you’ve been living in a place for a long time, it’s good to understand the local language and culture, and be respectful of it. I don’t like people who don’t feel the necessity to be accommodating of the local language and culture,” Renuka said on the podcast InControversial.

However, she added that she’s against any kind of violence. “I don’t like the fact that people can be rude about it. Going into a place where Marathi is not spoken and slapping two-three people won’t help the language in any way. We have to find ways to have people accept the language in a convenient manner. Language is not something that should be forced.”

Renuka’s husband, actor Ashutosh Rana (58), who hails from Madhya Pradesh, also addressed the issue recently. “Bhasha samwaad ka vishay hoti hai, vivaad ka nahin. Bharat samwaad mein vishwas rakhta hai, vivaad mein nahin,” he told ANI, emphasizing that language should be a tool for dialogue, not controversy. Renuka and Ashutosh’s comments come amid tensions in Maharashtra around language identity.

The debate reignited recently after the state government announced — and then rolled back — a decision to make Hindi a compulsory third language in schools. Since then, several confrontations have been reported where individuals, allegedly linked to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, have clashed with people for not speaking in Marathi.