Jaya Bachchan tenders apology

Jaya Bachchan has reportedly apologised for her remark in a film promotion function which has created needless uproar terming it as ‘anti-Marathi’ when the actress preferred to speak Hindi over Marathi.

As per reports, she has tendered her apology to Marathi people in an interview to a newspaper saying that she didn't intend to hurt the people of Maharashtra. According to reports, she felt sorry if she has hurt the sentiments of Maharastra people.

“I am very sorry if I have hurt the sentiments of Marathi speaking people in Mumbai and Maharashtra. Why would I go out of my way to malign the city that has given us everything? Don't we belong to this city too? I will not show disrespect to Mumbai till the day of my death," said Mrs Bachchan to Mumbai Mirror newspaper.

Mrs. Bachchan later said that her statement was misunderstood by many and her comments were only to those Bollywood personalities who prefer to speak in English rather than in Hindi.

However, her unintentional comment has certainly sparked up the whole issue of ‘language barrier’ as Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has asked for a public apology. He has even threatened to boycott the films starring any member of the Bachchan family.

"Till Jaya Bachchan and her family do not apologise to Marathis, we will not allow screening their films in the city. Until then we will tear all their film banners and posters from the city," said Rishikesh Choudhary, an MNS activist in Nasik.

The entire hullabaloo went up when Jaya Bachchan on Saturday in a film promotional event in Mumbai said: “I am from Uttar Pradesh and will speak in Hindi. People of Maharastra please excuse me.”

Industry stands behind Bachchans

The film industry on Monday come out in support of Bachchan family as MNS workers threatened to stop the release of several films staring Bachchans.

T P Agarwal, president of the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association, was quoted as saying “Mumbai does not belong to people who speak one language only. No one can force a ban on our films."

"This goondaraj has to be stopped," said Pahlaj Nihalani, president of the Association of Motion Pictures and Television Programme Producers.

Sena targets Shahrukh

Now it is Shahrukh Khan’s turn to feel the heat of Senas. An editorial appeared in Shiv Sena's mouthpiece Saamna lashed out Khan for calling himself as ‘Dilliwaalah’.

Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray said: “Shahrukh says he is a Dilliwaalah and if so then why he has come to Mumbai, the city which had made him what he is today.”

“If Shahrukh is only proud of being a Dilliwaalah then there is no point of him living in Mumbai? By saying so Khan is showing disrespect to Mumbai,” Thackeray further said.