Not personal views: Sanjay Dutt folds hands, clarifies 'no peace in India' remark
Sanjay Dutt has once again clarified remarks he made on Shekhar Suman's talk show Shekhar Tonite, saying they were part of a scripted segment and did not reflect his personal views. He shared a video statement after clips from the episode drew mixed reactions on social media, with some people saying they were surprised and others strongly disagreeing with what he said.
The actor had also posted a note on X a day earlier. The controversy followed his appearance on a Gandhi Jayanti episode of the show, where he said he no longer felt "peace" in the country. During a political satire segment in his Munna Bhai persona, he also asked for a "fourth monkey" to Gandhi ji's well-known three monkeys, saying that if someone sees something wrong, who will correct it.
In a video statement where he was seen folding his hands, Dutt said he understood why people had reacted the way they did and wanted to place his comments in the right context. "Hello, everyone. Recently, several people on social media have contacted me regarding some things I said on Shekhar Suman's show. Some people said they were surprised by my remarks, while many others strongly disagreed with what I said," he said.
He added, "I completely understand their feelings, and I would like to clarify one thing about this. Whatever I said on the show was part of a scripted segment, as is often the case on television shows of this nature. We were performing according to a script. The things said during that segment were part of that performance and its context."
Dutt said the remarks should not be read as his personal opinion. "They were in no way my personal views, thoughts or feelings. I deeply value the trust and affection of my friends and well-wishers. I would never want any misunderstanding about my actual views to arise because of a scripted performance. I hope this clarifies the whole matter in the right context. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat," he said.What he wrote on X
In his earlier post on X, Dutt said, "I would like to clarify that it was never my intention to hurt, offend, or disrespect the sentiments of any individual, community, or institution." He added that his remarks were made in the context of a scripted conversation intended to be light-hearted and humorous.
He said the spirit behind the remarks was similar to the humour and satire seen in the Munna Bhai films, particularly the idea of "Gandhigiri", which, he said, was meant to convey love, warmth, togetherness and goodwill. He added that his words were interpreted outside that intended context.What sparked the debate
Dutt appeared on Shekhar Tonite on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, where he spoke about the current state of the country and said he no longer felt "peace" in the nation. "The people of this country are so lovely. There should be peace here. I can't feel that peace in our country anymore. We Indians are large-hearted people, and we are hospitable. We have given so much, and we should always remain that way. I pray to Shivji that those days come back soon," he said.
He also slipped into his Munna Bhai persona during a political satire segment and imagined himself as the Prime Minister of India for five minutes. In the fictional address, he said he believed in Gandhi ji and referred to the three monkeys associated with him: do not see evil, do not hear evil and do not speak evil. He then added that today he wanted a fourth monkey too, asking that if someone sees something wrong, who will correct it.
His comments later triggered online controversy and debate, with parts of the conversation being interpreted differently from the context in which they were made. Shekhar Tonite, hosted by Shekhar Suman, premiered on May 15.More about the actor
Dutt holds a 10-year UAE Golden Visa, while his wife Maanayata Dutt and their twins, Shahraan and Iqra, live in Dubai. He was convicted under the Arms Act in connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case and was sentenced to five years in prison. He was acquitted of terrorism charges under TADA, with the court saying there was not sufficient evidence to establish that he was part of the conspiracy behind the blasts.
On the work front, Dutt was last seen in the political drama Aakhri Sawal, which was released in cinemas in May. His upcoming projects include Khalnayak Returns, in which he will reprise his role as Ballu.- EndsALSO READ | Sanjay Dutt speaks fluent Marathi in old video after saying no to language on stage
