After saying that he doesn’t know Marathi, which sparked a controversy, Sanjay Dutt has now reached out to Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Thursday to clear the air over his recent remarks at a Dahi Handi event in Thane. Dutt told the minister that his comment about not being able to learn Marathi during his time in Yerawada jail was made in jest and clarified that he was, in fact, well-versed in the language.Dutt reportedly began the phone conversation with “Pratap bhai, Jai Maharashtra” in Marathi and expressed regret if his remarks at the event had conveyed the wrong message, according to a report by NDTV.Sarnaik’s Sanskruti Yuva Pratishthan hosts one of the prominent Dahi Handi celebrations in Thane, drawing a mix of Bollywood personalities, political leaders and business figures each year. This year’s gathering saw the presence of several celebrities, including Dutt, Suniel Shetty and cricketer Suryakumar Yadav.The controversy began after Dutt, while interacting with Sarnaik at the event, remarked that despite spending six years in Yerawada jail, he had not managed to learn Marathi. His comment sparked a debate on social media, with some users criticising the actor, while others questioned the emphasis on Marathi and whether the expectation to learn the language was being directed primarily at autorickshaw and taxi drivers.With the remark drawing attention, Dutt called Sarnaik on Thursday to explain that he had only been joking when he made the comment. He also pointed out that he could speak Marathi well and said that his family members were Mumbaikars and that he had grown up in Maharashtra, a state that had given him a lot.During the conversation, Dutt also remembered the late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray and acknowledged the support he had extended to the actor and his family during a difficult period. Dutt expressed gratitude towards the Sena patriarch, saying Thackeray had stood by them when they were going through challenging times.