Kannada cinema star Shiva Rajkumar has issued a public apology after facing heavy criticism for calling Hindi the “national language” during a promotional event for his upcoming film Original Monster. The actor, who is set to make his Hindi debut with the bilingual project, clarified that he misspoke and never intended to hurt any sentiments.
The controversy started when Rajkumar was asked about delivering Hindi dialogues in the pan-India film. His response sparked a strong debate on social media, with many pointing out that India does not have a national language. The actor quickly addressed the backlash and admitted his mistake.
What Shiva Rajkumar Said at the Original Monster Event
The incident took place at the title launch ceremony of Original Monster in Bengaluru. During a media interaction, Rajkumar was questioned about his comfort with Hindi dialogues in the multilingual project. The actor responded:
“Why? Hindi is my second language. I can speak Hindi. What did you think? It is an easy language, the national language. How would we not know it? We know it.”
The statement immediately went viral on social media platforms. Several users criticized the actor for referring to Hindi as the “national language,” noting that the Indian Constitution does not designate any language as national. Hindi and English are the official languages of the government, but there is no official national language.
Actor Faces Strong Backlash Online
Following the remark, netizens expressed their disappointment. Some social media users pointed out that Kannada, along with other regional languages, deserves equal respect. One user even commented that Rajkumar’s legendary father, Dr. Rajkumar, would have been disappointed by the statement.
However, not all reactions were negative. A section of fans defended the actor, arguing that he was simply highlighting Hindi’s widespread usage across the country and did not mean to undermine any other language. The debate quickly became a trending topic, with strong opinions coming from both sides.
Shiva Rajkumar Apologizes and Clarifies His Remark
After facing severe criticism, Shiva Rajkumar addressed the controversy during another media interaction for Original Monster on September 9, 2026. He apologized and clarified that he had used the wrong terminology by mistake.
“I called Hindi the national language. It is one of the languages. Our language [Kannada] is always important to us. I don’t know, I got confused with one of the Indian languages. I apologise, I did not know. Their language is Hindi; ours is Kannada. Their language is important to them. Similarly, our language is important to us.”
The actor further explained that his words came out incorrectly during the conversation. He said he meant to refer to Hindi as “one of the languages spoken in India” rather than the national language. He also made it clear that he respects every Indian language and stressed the importance of Kannada to him.
About the Film Original Monster
Original Monster marks Shiva Rajkumar’s debut in Hindi cinema. The film is directed by R Chandru and produced under the RC Studios banner. It is being made in both Kannada and Hindi and features Telugu actor Sunil in a key role.
The movie is set in the 1990s and explores themes of strength, violence, and human nature. The title refers to the idea that a monster can exist within every person. Bollywood producer Anand Pandit is presenting the film nationwide. The project recently went on floors in Bengaluru with a traditional muhurat ceremony. The film is expected to release in 2027.
Previous Health Battle and Upcoming Projects
Shiva Rajkumar has had a challenging year. In December 2024, he traveled to a Miami-based hospital to have his cancerous bladder removed. Doctors created an artificial bladder using his intestine. In January 2025, the actor admitted that he had been fearful before his diagnosis but drew strength from his fans, family, and medical team.
Apart from Original Monster, Rajkumar has several projects in the pipeline. These include Bail, scheduled for release on October 2, followed by Dad and 666 Operation Dream Theatre. He is also set to appear in Tamil films Jailer 2 and Picasso.
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