Did Rahul Dev take a dig at Mahesh Babu? Claims actor can't speak Hindi - WATCH

Rahul Dev is making waves online for his comments made during an appearance in a recent podcast. The actor, who has featured in Telugu films like 'Athadu', 'Pournami', among others, was quizzed about superstar Mahesh Babu and his comments are now going viral.Rahul Dev on Mahesh Babu's careerDuring the chat, Rahul was asked about his views on Mahesh Babu, along with a host of other film stars. Reflecting on the actor's journey, Rahul said that Mahesh has become successful by starring in a certain kind of films and noted his early collaborations with director Trivikram Srinivas. Dev said, "Director Srinivas is a very sensible director. He (Mahesh Babu) was his first choice for several years and they did many films together. They merge commercial with sense, that genre is not there in Hindi cinema. In Hindi, there is Ram Gopal Verma genre, the things Anurag would write, that was one extreme and the other is remaking Hollywood films."When asked about the actor's previous comment saying 'Bollywood can't afford me', Rahul commented, "He doesn't know to speak the language, that's the truth." He ended with a wink.The clip, however, has created a stir online, with fans of the superstar expressing their shock over the comment. However, Rahul's wink at the end of the clip left others commenting that 'he was just joking'.About Mahesh Babu's commentIn May 2022, during the event, Mahesh Babu was asked about when he would be stepping into Bollywood. The actor simply said, "Bollywood can't afford me."The actor, who enjoys massive stardom across Telugu states and among Telugu-speaking audiences worldwide and was clear about his stance. "I may sound arrogant. I did get a lot of offers in Hindi. But I think they can't afford me. I don't want to waste my time." The statement instantly set social media on fire, sparking debates between fans of South and Hindi cinema.Mahesh Babu's next filmFans defending Mahesh Babu, claimed that the actor can in fact speak Hindi fluently. While he has still not starred in a Bollywood film, he will soon be seen working with director SS Rajamouli in the epic saga 'Varanasi'. The film will see the actor starring alongside Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj. The film is slated for a 2027 release.