Kolkata/IBNS: Bengali film superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee has apologised to his fans and followers with a clarification days after facing severe backlash for discouraging a reporter from speaking in Bengali during the promotions of a Hindi film.

During the press conference of his film Maalik, a reporter asked a question to Prosenjit related to his work in Bengali, which is the actor's mother tongue.

Prosenjit, who seemed surprised, told the journo, "Why do you need to talk in Bengali?"

'Maalik' lead actor Rajkummar Rao quickly translated the question to English for the rest of the audience.

After days of being relentlessly trolled for preferring English over Bengali, the 62-year-old actor issued a statement on social media.

Referring to the press conference which was held in Juhu on July 1, Prosenjit says, "... From the director to actors, everyone present on the dais were speaking in English. At that moment, one of my known journalists from Bengal asked me a question in Bengali. I felt others won't be able to understand accurately if I answer in Bengali because the majority of the audience were not able to follow the language. So out of compulsion, I asked the journalist why she was questioning in Bengali."

"As only that particular statement was shared on social media, so a lot of people were hurt by its literal meaning. I am also hurt because I couldn't imagine my remark would draw such a reaction. Perhaps I couldn't make people understand my real intention leading to a possible misunderstanding," he added.

"I can't even think of disrespecting my mother language. Bengali is the language of my heart. But the judgement of Bengali people will always remain the most important to me... I have realised people are hurt by my remark so I apologise," the Tollywood A-lister concluded.

Apart from Rajkummar and Prosenjit, Maalik stars Manushi Chhillar, Huma Qureshi in significant roles.

The action-thriller- directed by Pulkit- is slated to release on July 11.