'If You Love India So Much...': Raj Thackeray Questions Vivek Oberoi, R Madhavan's Dubai Move

Last Updated:August 02, 2026, 13:29 IST

MNS chief Raj Thackeray questioned actors Vivek Oberoi and R Madhavan and alleged that actors work in "government-sponsored" films before returning to live abroad.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray questioned why actors Vivek Oberoi and R Madhavan chose to settle in Dubai if they believed that India progressed significantly under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Addressing an event organised by the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena, the student wing of the MNS, in Mumbai, Raj Thackeray alleged that several industrialists had left India in recent years and cited the two actors as examples.

“Vivek Oberoi, who made a film on Modi and played Modi’s role in it, has also gone to live in Dubai," Raj Thackeray said, referring to the 2019 biopic based on the Prime Minister. He also took aim at actor R Madhavan, who has publicly praised PM Modi in the past.

“R Madhavan who praised PM Modi – where does he live? He lives in Dubai. So if you love India so much, if you love PM Modi, if they believe that PM Modi is developing India, then why are they living in a foreign land? Why are they living in Dubai with their families?" Raj Thackeray asked.

He further alleged that actors work in “government-sponsored" films before returning to live abroad.

“They will come here, work in a government-sponsored film like ‘Dhurandhar’ and then will go back to Dubai," he said.

Madhavan has previously said that he moved to Dubai during the Covid-19 pandemic to support his son’s professional swimming career. Oberoi, meanwhile, has said he relocated to Dubai to expand his business interests.

During his speech, Raj Thackeray also commented on the abusive language used against Prime Minister Modi during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, saying such remarks were inappropriate.

Referring to the Prime Minister’s recent appeal to forgive “misguided children" and guide them on the right path, Raj Thackeray said he agreed with the sentiment but added that BJP workers should also be held to the same standard.

“I agree with it. No one should use a language of such a low level. But he should tell people of his own party," Raj Thackeray said.

He alleged that BJP’s online supporters routinely target public figures, including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and members of the Thackeray family and claimed that many actors avoid expressing their views publicly due to online trolling.

“Even they should be asked to stop. BJP troll teams started this. As you sow, so shall you reap," he said, adding that abuse directed at anyone was unacceptable.

Raj Thackeray also said that while the alleged NEET paper leak acted as the immediate trigger for the CJP protests, the scale of the movement reflected years of accumulated public grievances.

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