Mumbai, July 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Acclaimed filmmaker Priyadarshan has shared an anecdote about former India cricketer Virender Sehwag, recalling how he encouraged the batting great to overcome his hesitation about speaking English by simply practising the language without worrying about mistakes.
Speaking during an interaction with IANS, Priyadarshan said the incident occurred while he was directing Sehwag in a television commercial. He noticed that the former opener was self-conscious about speaking English and advised him not to let fear of making errors hold him back.
“I was shooting the second ad with Virender Sehwag. He had a problem with the language. So, he was a little conscious, and then I said, ‘Speak, whether it is wrong or right, you speak’,” Priyadarshan recalled.
The filmmaker said he met Sehwag again about two years later and was pleasantly surprised to find him speaking fluent English. According to Priyadarshan, Sehwag credited constant practice and the necessity of communicating in the language for his improvement.
Reflecting on the experience, Priyadarshan said that confidence comes only through practice and that hesitation often becomes the biggest obstacle to learning a language. He also admitted that while he understands, reads and writes Hindi, he is not fluent in speaking it despite studying the language until Class 10.
The filmmaker’s remarks came as actor Akshay Kumar also shared his views on language preferences in the entertainment industry. Akshay said he has consistently chosen to speak Hindi, even during the 1990s when English was widely considered the preferred language at public events.
The actor said he remains comfortable expressing himself in Hindi, even while participating in events where others speak English. For him, he added, language is a matter of authenticity and comfort rather than image or perception.
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