Raj Thackeray Criticizes Actors Living In Dubai

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray recently criticized actors R. Madhavan and Vivek Oberoi for residing in Dubai despite their public support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India's developmental progress. Speaking at a student wing event in Mumbai, Thackeray questioned the sincerity of their patriotism if they choose to live abroad with their families. He suggested that these actors return to India to work in projects, including government-sponsored films, while maintaining their primary residence in the United Arab Emirates.

In response to the growing public conversation, R. Madhavan has addressed his living situation, stating that his move to Dubai was a practical decision made during the COVID-19 pandemic to facilitate his son's swimming training. He emphasized that he continues to pay his taxes in India and is not ashamed of his purchase of a yacht, which he acquired while obtaining his captain's license. Vivek Oberoi, similarly, has previously stated that his relocation to Dubai was motivated by business expansion opportunities.

The event also served as a platform for Thackeray to comment on the current political climate, including his disapproval of the low-level language used against the Prime Minister by certain groups. However, he balanced this by accusing BJP-aligned troll teams of being the originators of abusive online discourse targeting diverse public figures. He linked the public frustration seen in protests to accumulated grievances, noting that these tensions often manifest when actors or public figures become centers of polarized debate regarding their professional and personal choices.