Trolled for his son's name 'Jehangir', Chinmay Mandlekar says he won't play Shivaji Maharaj's role
Pune, Apr 22: Trolled over his son's name, "Jehangir", noted Marathi actor Chinmay Mandlekar has announced he would not play the character of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as his family is being mentally harassed on social media.
Mandlekar said his son is 11-year-old but trolling over his name started only recently.
The actor and his wife Neha claimed they have been subjected to mental harassment over their son's name.
"My wife Neha had talked about the trolling of our family over our son's name yesterday through a social media post. After clarifying the views over the name, the trolling and comments did not decrease. In Fact, the bad comments have increased and the trollers are now raising doubts over them and as a person, this is annoying me (sic)," Mandlekar stated on social media.
The actor said he was open to criticism about his work as an actor but trolls have no right to comment on his personal life.
Mandlekar also said he had clarified why he named his son"Jehangir" multiple times on social media.
Jehangir was the fourth Mughal emperor, who ruled from 1605 till his death in 1627.
"The tone of the trolling is that I have played the character of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in multiple movies and still the name of my son is Jahangir. My son was born in 2013 and today he is 11 years old. I did not face the trolling then. It is happening now," the actor said.
Mandlekar has written, directed or acted in successful plays such as "Bechaki" and "Sukhanshi Bhandto Aamhi". He had essayed the character of Chhatrapati Shivaji in Marathi movies "Farzand", "Pawankhind", "Subhedar" and "Sher Shivraj".
He had also starred in Marathi movies - "Zenda", "Morya or Gajaar: Journey of the Soul", and also played supporting roles in Hindi films including "Tere Bin Laden" and "Shanghai".
Mandlekar said he was appreciated a lot for playing the role of the Maratha king.
"But because of that role, if my family is being harassed, I announce here with great humility that I will not play that character. This decision has saddened me. The role was an expression of my devotion and love for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj," he stated.
Hitting back at trolls, the actor wondered whether they will change the name of the iconic Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai.
"The Government of India conferred Bharat Ratna on Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata. Do we think about his name when we use the products and services by his company Tata," he said.
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K’taka HC declines stay on menstrual leave order, says issue of public importance
Bengaluru: The State Government has strongly defended its decision to grant one day of paid menstrual leave every month to women employees, telling the Karnataka High Court that the notification was issued in the larger interest of women and is legally sound. The Court, treating the matter as one of significant public importance, refused to stay the implementation of the order and adjourned the hearing to January 20.
The Labour Department’s November 20, 2025 notification was challenged by the Bangalore Hotels Association, Avirat Defence System, Facile Aerospace Technologies Ltd and Samos Technologies Ltd. Justice Jyoti Mulimani heard the petitions on Wednesday.
At the start of the hearing, the bench asked whether the State had filed its objections. Advocate General K. Shashikiran Shetty informed the Court that objections had been submitted and that copies would be provided to the petitioners.
Defending the notification, the Advocate General said the government had introduced a progressive measure aimed at women’s welfare, one that no other state in India had implemented so far. He told the Court that 72 objections were received and considered before finalising the notification. He argued that the government was empowered to frame such policy under Article 42 of the Constitution and noted that the Supreme Court and the Law Commission had earlier made recommendations in this direction.
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When the Court asked whether the notification applied to all sectors, the Advocate General replied in the affirmative. The bench observed that the matter required detailed hearing because of its wider public impact and decided to take it up in January. The Court added that petitioners may file their responses to the State’s objections before the next hearing.
Petitioners’ counsel B.K. Prashanth requested that the State be restrained from enforcing the order until the case is decided. The Advocate General responded that the government had already begun implementing the notification across all sectors.
Justice Mulimani noted that nothing would change between now and the next hearing and emphasised that the Court would consider all arguments thoroughly before issuing any direction. The bench then adjourned the matter to January 20 and asked petitioners to file any additional applications with copies to the State’s counsel.
