India News | Actor Rahul Solapurkar Now Faces Flak over Remarks on Ambedkar; Apologises

Pune, Feb 9 (PTI) A fresh row erupted on Sunday after actor Rahul Solapurkar described Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar as a "Brahmin" in the Vedic context of gaining knowledge, days after his podcast on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj triggered protests.

Amid the backlash, Solapurkar apologised, expressing regret over his choice of words concerning Ambedkar, the social reformer and chief architect of India's Constitution.

Also Read | Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026: TVK Names Superstar Vijay As Its CM Candidate, Alliance Only With Parties Recognising His Leadership.

In a video that surfaced on social media, the actor claimed Ambedkar was born to Ramji Sakpal in a Bahujan family. Later, he was adopted by his teacher who gave him his surname, he said.

"In the Vedas, it is said that a man who gains knowledge becomes a Brahmin. In that sense, Ambedkar was Brahmin because he gained knowledge," said the actor.

Also Read | Bulldozer Action in Uttar Pradesh: Authorities Begin Demolition of 3-Storey Madni Mosque in Kushinagar After Stay Order Issued by High Court Lapses on February 8 (Watch Videos).

NCP (SP) legislator Jitendra Awhad rebuked Solapurkar over his remarks.

Sharing the video on X, Awhad said, “Rahul Solapurkar has now crossed all limits. He should be beaten with shoes wherever he is seen. It is people like him, driven by casteist ideologies, who have ruined Maharashtra and the country,” said Awhad.

Facing criticism, Solapurkar, who has appeared in several Marathi films, tendered an apology over his remarks about Ambedkar.

“I have given multiple lectures on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Babasaheb Ambedkar. I am completely unaware of why such videos are being circulated on social media. Once again, I apologise to everybody for the remarks I made. In future, I will not make any incorrect statements about national icons,” he said.

Days ago, the actor had sparked a row with his comments in a podcast about Shivaji Maharaj's great escape in 1666.

Solapurkar had said that the iconic 17th-century warrior king escaped from Agra Fort by bribing Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's officials, and not by concealing himself in a basket of sweets as per the popular account.

After protests by Maratha outfits, Solapurkar resigned as a trustee of the Pune-based Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) and said he regretted using the word “bribe” and hurting the sentiments of those who revere Chhatrapati Shivaji.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)