Playing ‘Marathi': Why this regional controversy is biggest for Bigg Boss 11
Hina Khan making fun of Marathi pronunciation triggered strong reactions on Twitter.
A video showing Bigg Boss 11 contestants Hina Khan and Vikas Gupta discussing Shilpa Shinde's Marathi origin has let to a Twitter war - the right kind of a controversy for the show's TRP, but an absolutely unnecessary one in a society teeming with various kind of biases, regionalism being one of them.
@bollywood_life Hina Khan mocking Maharashtrians by the way they speak - “Silpa Silpa” and also Shilpa’s fans! #BB11 pic.twitter.com/VeWo9sboxQ
— ~Vinci~⚡️???? (@vinci1203) January 6, 2018
This portion of the video has not been telecast on the show yet. It could have been done away with altogether. But the showmakers uploaded it under the “Unseen Undekha” section of Voot, the digital platform of the channel, which hosts the show. Given the popularity of the show, there was no chance that the video will remain “unseen”. And that led to a flurry of regional attacks on social media.
The contestants who were nominated for this week’s eviction — Shilpa Shinde, Hina Khan, Vikas Gupta and Luv Tyagi – visited a mall in Vashi to seek votes to get saved from this week's elimination. The video was shot after they came back to the Bigg Boss set at Lonavala. While both Hina and Vikas were discussing how good it felt to see a mall full of fans shouting their names, Hina said people who were pronouncing Shilpa’s name as “Silpa” were her Maharashtra fans. Vikas agreed and said that he always knew that Shilpa being a Marathi had an edge over the rest.
Hina lives in MaharashtraWorks in MaharashtraAnd she still has the balls to play 'Marathi card'?People love Shilpa not because she is just MARATHI!She has played Angoori who was a Bihari character!Shilpa has fans in all over India!#ShilpiansStrongerTogether
— Kruti???? (@RealKruti101) January 5, 2018
Now that Hina Khan has had a realization of Shilpa Shinde's fandom, she's already crediting her victory to her being a Maharashtrian.Hina, you're from Kashmir, if ethnicity really mattered, you wouldn't even be there, owing to the treatment meted out to our Jawans by Kashmiris.
— Sonam Mahajan (@AsYouNotWish) January 5, 2018
@eyehinakhan you also working in Maharashtra too at least respect your work. @JJROCKXX @BiggBoss @ColorsTV @EndemolShineIND @BeingSalmanKhan @rajcheerfull #BiggBoss11 #BB11 #WeekendKaVaar
— Crazen Sona ???? Shilpa FTW ???? (@scholarsona_) January 7, 2018
Im not from MaharashtraIm not from PunjabIm from India and I love each and every corner of my country????Its disgusting of Heena to try and demean a communityPehle South ko kiyaab jahan won khud rehti hai Us MAHARASHTRA ko bhi nahin chodaShame#BB11#BiggBoss11#BiggBoss https://t.co/TsszlnH1tt
— Bhavna???? (@designall123) January 7, 2018
Hina is so jealous & cannot digest that our Queen Shilpa has so many fans & supporters compared to her. In jealousy she is trying to highlight the point Maharashtra, forgetting about the live voting where whole India voted & there also she couldn't match our Queen Shilpa's votes
— Ankita Dasgupta (@AnkieDg) January 7, 2018
If mocking someone with their accent is the winner quality then I m glad Shilpa haven't got this.Mumbai comes in Maharashtra & there you made your career Hina Khan. You rose to fame in this city. But, it seems u forgot that. @EndemolShineIND@BiggBoss @ColorsTV @rajcheerfull https://t.co/fWeaUf2bWk
— Team Shilpa ???? (@Team_Shilpa) January 6, 2018
Those people who are saying #Shilpa lives in Maharashtra that's why she has max votes should realize this is #BiggBoss not #IPL.She isn't representing Maharashtra or any other state so saying such statement is nonsense.Akhe kholo reality accept kro!#BiggBoss #BB11 #Hina #Vikas
— HamPs ???? (@HamPs_007) January 5, 2018
Correct! Also, metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, etc. have mixed population, proof is Vikas himself who is non-maharashtriyan but stays and earns at Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra!
— Mahi #TeamShilpa ???????? (@I_Love_Shilpa) January 7, 2018
Hina Khan Then Get Lost From Our Pure Hearted Maharashtra..If U Have Problem With Our Accent...Go The Hell...Otherwise We Will Throw Our Kolhapuri Chappals On You..If u mock our culture
— We Stand By Shilpa (@ByShilpa) January 7, 2018
Both Hina n Vikas have been living in Maharashtra n tasted success hereNow suddenly they are outsiders n feel Shilpa has advantage!Waah ????????And then thy had issues with Luv suddenly becoming a commoner!Insecurity makes you do this n thy both proved it!#BB11 #INDIAN
— Sneha Makhija (@makhijasneha) January 7, 2018
This casual chit-chat, including Hina’s making fun of Marathi pronunciation, did not go down well with the viewers. While many sniffed Hina Khan’s insecurity despite having worked in Mumbai for the past eight years, many asked her to go back to Kashmir, without mincing any words. Both Hina and Vikas, who work in the television industry in Mumbai, were slammed for playing regional cards.
And soon it was a state vs state fight on Twitter.
I have lots of Kashmiri friends. And they are so humble and positive. And most importantly so intelligent.Can't see any such quality in Hina. https://t.co/v3hlU2pP1J
— Ik Kudi (@Ikkudii) January 7, 2018
I am a Kashmiri and I support Shilpa Shinde! Hina had better not play the regional card. Most Kashmiris I know would never vote for a spiteful, self-obsessed, egomaniac like Hina!
— Bigg Boss Truth (@BiggBossTruth) January 7, 2018
Where did miss Hina khan become THE HINA KHAN I am sure not from Kashmir. Now bringing Maharashtra between everything. Pathetic ????????????????????????
— snigdha Dinesh (@snigdhaDinesh) January 7, 2018
This was not the first time that the regional card was played inside the house. Host Salman Khan and Shilpa often converse in Marathi. Before heading out for the mall, Shilpa’s friend Puneesh asked her to speak in Marathi with her fans to establish a connection. Some people, on the other hand, found playing the regional card justified as according to them, a national show should not decide on elimination on the basis of a visit to a mall in one particular region.