{
  "id": 6432168,
  "title": "'Can Only Request Them': Pratap Sarnaik Says Actors, Cricketers, Ordinary Citizens Cannot Be Forced To Speak Marathi - VIDEO",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/can-only-request-them-pratap-sarnaik-says-actors-cricketers-ordinary",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T14:49:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/can-only-request-them-pratap-sarnaik-says-actors-cricketers-ordinary-citizens-cannot-be-forced-to-speak-marathi-video"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mumbai's Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik recently defended his stance regarding Bollywood stars and their obligation to converse in Marathi. Sarnaik claimed the government cannot compel actors, cricketers or regular citizens to exclusively speak Marathi, instead urging them to attempt to do so. He referenced a 1.5-minute video of a Dahi Handi event, promising to share it with reporters. The video would allegedly showcase how proficient Suniel Shetty, Sanjay Dutt, Badshah and Suryakumar Yadav were in Marathi conversation. Sarnaik also clarified that while taxi and autorickshaw drivers are legally required to learn Marathi within a year, other individuals do not fall under this legal obligation.",
  "summary": "Mumbai: Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Wednesday responded to criticism surrounding Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt's remarks about speaking Marathi, asserting that an actor cannot be forced to speak the language. Speaking to reporters, Sarnaik said, \"We have a one-and-a-half-minute video of that Dahi Handi event. I will send you that video during our meeting. Please show it. Let…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}