India, July 17 -- Actor Renuka Shahane has weighed in on the ongoing language debate in Maharashtra, urging people to respect local languages and cultures while firmly opposing any form of aggression in the name of linguistic pride. Speaking on the podcast InControversial with Pooja Chaudhri, the actor, who hails from Maharashtra herself, shared her thoughts on the tensions that have emerged between Hindi and Marathi speakers in the state.

"If you've been living in a place for a long time, it's a good thing to understand the local language, culture and be more respectful than anything else. It's not about the speaking of it, much more than the intention of wanting to, you know, respect it. I do not like people who do not feel the necessi...