Top News

Prosenjit Chatterjee, one of Bengal’s most iconic actors, has found himself in the midst of controversy after a video from a recent Hindi film event went viral. The clip shows him questioning a journalist for speaking in Bengali — a moment that drew heavy backlash online and left many fans disappointed. Accused of turning his back on his roots, the actor has now broken his silence, releasing an emotional statement to clarify his intent and express regret over the misunderstanding.

The controversy began on July 1, at the Mumbai trailer launch of Maalik, which stars Prosenjit alongside Rajkummar Rao. During the media interaction, a journalist posed a question in Bengali, to which Prosenjit responded, “Why do you need to talk in Bengali?" The remark did not go down well with many netizens, who accused the actor of distancing himself from his roots.

The video clip quickly made rounds online, leading to a wave of backlash. Many felt that Prosenjit, fondly known as Bumba Da, was disrespecting his mother tongue — a sentiment that deeply resonated with his Bengali fanbase.

Taking to social media, Prosenjit issued a heartfelt clarification through a statement written in Bengali, later translated by News18. In the note, he expressed how the situation was misunderstood and explained the context behind his response at the event.

“A few days ago, something I said — rather, a single sentence — has spread across social media. I would like to say something about that,” he wrote, addressing the controversy. He further added, “I have been working mainly in the Bengali film industry for 42 years. Only in the past few years have I had the chance to work on pan-India projects.”

Explaining the context, he continued, “The film’s director, artists, journalists and others present there were all primarily using English to converse. There, a Bengali journalist asked me a question in Bengali. I have known her for a while and am quite fond of her too. Since most of the people there did not understand Bengali properly, I thought that if I responded in the language, people present there might not understand me."

“That’s why I told her – ‘Why are you asking me in Bengali?’ Only this particular clip has been picked out and is circulating online. As a result, many have been hurt by this. I, too, was hurt and continue to feel hurt. I didn’t gauge the repercussions. I used a few English words and could not explain myself to you,” he shared.

Prosenjit also expressed his emotional attachment to Bengali and its cultural significance in his life. “Because I can’t imagine insulting my mother tongue. Bengali is the language of my soul. And the feelings of people from my native place will always matter the most. This thought will continue to exist till my last breath,” the actor emphasized.

He concluded his note with an apology: “Lastly, I want to say that I know you have been extremely hurt by my words, and I am sorry for that. That’s all I had to say about what I felt about the incident. Stay well."

Signed off affectionately as Bumba Da, his post was accompanied by a folded hands emoji — a gesture of humility that resonated with his loyal fanbase.

Following the actor’s open statement, fans rallied behind him, praising his honesty and his emotional apology. Many urged him to move past the incident and continue doing the work he is loved for, both in Bengali and Hindi cinema.

Prosenjit Chatterjee, known for acclaimed Hindi projects like Shanghai and Jubilee, continues to make his mark in pan-India ventures, while also remaining a pillar of Bengali cinema.