Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has become the latest celebrity to wade into Maharashtra’s intensifying language debate. While casting his vote for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Elections on Thursday, January 15, 2026, the actor’s refusal to repeat a message in Hindi has sparked a massive divide on social media.
The incident occurred outside a polling booth in Bandra, where Aamir, joined by his family, urged citizens to exercise their right to vote.
The Interaction: Marathi First
After proudly showing his inked finger to the cameras, Aamir delivered a brief appeal to Mumbaikars in Marathi. When a reporter requested him to repeat the statement in Hindi for national viewers, the actor responded with a smile but a firm stance:
“Hindi mein? Yeh Maharashtra hai, bhai.” (In Hindi? This is Maharashtra, brother.)
He eventually provided a brief Hindi statement after being told the footage would be aired in Delhi, but the initial remark quickly went viral. Fans are currently split:
- The Supporters: Many praised the actor for respecting the local culture and language during a state-level election.
- The Critics: Others felt the remark was “unnecessarily exclusionary,” especially given Aamir’s status as a global icon whose primary medium is Hindi cinema.
A Growing Pattern: The “Marathi Only” Trend
Aamir’s comment is not an isolated event but part of a broader “Speak Marathi” movement that has regained momentum in the lead-up to the 2026 BMC polls.
| Celebrity | Incident Context | Key Statement |
| Kajol | Maharashtra State Film Awards (Aug 2025) | “Abhi main Hindi mein bolu? Jisko samajhna hai, samajh lenge!” |
| Renuka Shahane | Podcast Interview (July 2025) | “If you are in a place for a long time, it’s a good thing to understand the local language.” |
| Aamir Khan | BMC Elections (Jan 2026) | “Yeh Maharashtra hai, bhai.” |
Timeline of the Row
- April 2025: The Maharashtra government briefly mandated Hindi as a compulsory third language in schools for Classes 1–5.
- May 2025: Following massive backlash from the MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT), the government rolled back the decision, making Hindi optional.
- Late 2025: Incidents of linguistic friction increased, with reports of MNS workers confronting non-Marathi speakers in public spaces.
- January 2026: Political leaders, including Raj Thackeray, intensified the rhetoric during election rallies, claiming “Hindi imposition” would not be tolerated in Mumbai.
The BMC Election Stakes
The BMC elections, held after a record four-year delay, are the wealthiest civic polls in India. With voter turnout reaching approximately 55%, the results—scheduled to be announced on January 16, 2026—are seen as a litmus test for the “Marathi Asmita” (Marathi Pride) narrative ahead of the state assembly elections.