Priyadarshan's advice to Virender Sehwag on English: Just speak
Synopsis
Priyadarshan’s advice to Virender Sehwag on English was disarmingly simple: just speak, right or wrong. Two years later, Sehwag was fluent. The anecdote, shared alongside Akshay Kumar’s own declaration that Hindi is his comfort language at every public forum, opens a rare, candid window into how India’s biggest stars navigate language, identity, and confidence.
Key Takeaways
Priyadarshan advised Virender Sehwag to speak English without fear during a commercial shoot, telling him: ‘Whether it is wrong or right, you speak.’ When Priyadarshan met Sehwag again roughly two years later, the former cricketer had become a fluent English speaker.
Priyadarshan also admitted he cannot speak Hindi fluently despite having studied it until Class 10 .
Akshay Kumar said he has always chosen to speak in Hindi at public events, even in the 1990s when English was seen as more fashionable.
Both celebrities framed language as a matter of comfort and authenticity rather than status or perception.
Acclaimed filmmaker Priyadarshan has revealed the simple piece of advice he gave former India cricket star Virender Sehwag to help him shed his hesitation about speaking in English — just speak, regardless of whether it comes out right or wrong.
On Set with Sehwag
Priyadarshan recalled the moment during a commercial shoot with Sehwag, when the former opener appeared visibly self-conscious about the language. The Hera Pheri director stepped in with a direct nudge. '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 said.
The Transformation Two Years Later
The advice, it turned out, worked. Priyadarshan recalled meeting Sehwag roughly two years later and finding him speaking fluent English. Sehwag himself attributed the change to necessity. 'He said he was forced to speak,' Priyadarshan noted. The director’s point was straightforward: the only way past the fear of a language is to use it, imperfectly at first, until it becomes natural.
Priyadarshan on His Own Language Journey
The Malayalam filmmaker was candid about his own complicated relationship with Hindi. 'I cannot speak Hindi properly, but I can understand. I can even write and read because I studied it till the 10th standard. But I can’t speak fluently,' he said. It was a moment of self-reflection that underscored his broader message: language barriers are universal, and pushing through them is the only remedy.
Akshay Kumar on Choosing Hindi
The conversation also touched on the views of actor Akshay Kumar, who has long championed Hindi as his language of public expression. The Namaste London actor said he has consistently chosen Hindi even in settings where English is the norm. 'In the ‘90s, even if there was an award night, I always said that I would speak in Hindi. Generally too, I always speak in Hindi. Even at many of my conclaves, where there are English speakers, I fold my hands and tell them, you speak in English but I will speak in Hindi. That is my comfort,' Akshay said. For him, language is less about perception and more about authenticity and ease.
Why This Conversation Matters
The exchange between a South Indian filmmaker, a North Indian cricketer, and a Punjabi-origin Bollywood star reflects a wider, ongoing negotiation in Indian public life over language, identity, and confidence. Notably, all three figures have built pan-India careers without conforming to a single linguistic comfort zone — making their candour on the subject particularly resonant. As India’s entertainment and sports industries grow more multilingual, such conversations are likely to become more common, not less.
Point of View
They map the two main strategies Indians use to navigate linguistic insecurity — push through the fear, or sidestep it entirely. Neither is wrong, and mainstream coverage rarely pauses long enough to notice that both are acts of confidence, not limitation.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What advice did Priyadarshan give Virender Sehwag about speaking English?
Priyadarshan told Sehwag to simply speak English without worrying about making mistakes, saying ‘Whether it is wrong or right, you speak.’ The advice came during a commercial shoot when Sehwag appeared self-conscious about the language.
Did Virender Sehwag improve his English after Priyadarshan’s advice?
Yes. Priyadarshan recalled meeting Sehwag approximately two years after their shoot and finding him speaking fluent English. Sehwag reportedly told him he had been ‘forced to speak,’ crediting necessity as the driver of improvement.
What did Priyadarshan say about his own Hindi speaking ability?
Priyadarshan admitted he cannot speak Hindi fluently, even though he studied the language until Class 10 and can read and write it. He used his own example to reinforce the point that understanding a language and speaking it confidently are different challenges.
What is Akshay Kumar’s stance on language at public events?
Akshay Kumar said he has always chosen to speak in Hindi at public events, including award nights in the 1990s when English was considered more fashionable. He described Hindi as his ‘comfort’ language and said he politely tells English-speaking audiences at conclaves that he will respond in Hindi.
Why is this conversation between Priyadarshan, Sehwag, and Akshay Kumar significant?
It offers a rare candid look at how prominent Indians across industries navigate language confidence and identity. The exchange reflects a broader national conversation about linguistic comfort, prestige, and authenticity in a multilingual country.
