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Shiva Rajkumar apologises for mislabeling Hindi as a national language

Kannada actor Shiva Rajkumar said he misspoke by calling Hindi a "national language" and issued an apology, clarifying his intended wording.

Shiva Rajkumar, a veteran Kannada star, faced backlash after describing Hindi as the national language while promoting the film Original Monster. The comment, made during a press interaction, was widely criticised online. He subsequently appeared before the media to say he had mixed up the phrasing, intending to note that Hindi is one of India's national languages.

Rajkumar stressed that Kannada remains vital to his community and that each language holds importance for its speakers. He expressed regret for the mistake and asked for forgiveness. The incident highlights sensitivities around language identity in India.

Why it matters

The apology underscores linguistic sensitivities in India and the public scrutiny of celebrity statements.

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Shiva RajkumarHindiKannadaOriginal Monsterapologylanguage controversy
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