Mumbai, July 10
Actor Zain Durrani, who is originally from Kashmir and is currently staying in Mumbai, has stressed on the importance of respecting and embracing the diverse languages and cultures of the region one lives in, while also staying true to their own roots.
The actor, who will be seen in the upcoming film “Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan,†has also advocated for cultural harmony through mutual respect and integration.
Talking to IANS about the current controversy surrounding the language conflict between Hindi and Marathi speaking people in Maharashtra, Zain said: “I think we are a diverse mix of so many cultures and so many languages. Even our currency represents some of our languages and so many others exist all through the country.
The actor shared that one must respect the local languages of the places they live in.
“It’s imperative to learn to offer the due respect to the languages in whichever region you live.
Not just to appease but to assimilate while bringing your own culture as an offering and hold tightly to your roots," he added.
Currently, the state of Maharashtra has been gripped in controversy surrounding the language conflict between Hindi and Marathi speaking people. Workers of the political party MNS have been accused of using violent measures against those who refuse to speak Marathi, a language which shares the devanagari script with Hindi.
On the acting front, the actor will be seen sharing screen space with Vikrant Massey and Shanaya Kapoor in “Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan†directed by Santosh Singh.
'Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan' will see Shanaya paired opposite Vikrant.
The upcoming film draws inspiration from Ruskin Bond’s beloved short story, "The Eyes Have It." Backed by Zee Studios and Mini Films, the project is produced by Mansi Bagla and Varun Bagla.
Scheduled for release on July 11, the film marks Mini Films' second collaboration with Vikrant Massey, following their previous partnership on the remake of “Forensic.â€
— IANS
Reader Comments
As a Mumbaikar, I appreciate Zain's balanced view. But let's be honest - forcing people to speak Marathi through violence is unacceptable. Our Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb always said "Mumbai for all Indians". Language should unite, not divide.
Respectfully disagree with some points. While diversity is good, regional languages are dying because of Hindi imposition. In Bangalore, Kannada is disappearing. Zain is right about respecting local languages, but we need stronger protections for them.
Beautiful perspective! 👠I'm Gujarati working in Chennai and I've learned basic Tamil. It's made my life so much easier and locals appreciate the effort. Language is about connection, not domination. Looking forward to Zain's new film too!
The real issue is job opportunities. If Maharashtra government made Marathi compulsory in schools and government jobs, people would learn it naturally. No need for violence. Zain's Kashmir background gives him unique insight into language politics.
As a Maharashtrian, I'm tired of this debate. We welcome everyone, just learn some basic Marathi like "Dhanyavaad" and "Majha naav Kavya aahe". That's enough to show respect. Zain understands this better than our own politicians!
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.