Aap Ki Adalat: Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday took a dig at Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray and compared him to famous Bollywood comedian Johnny Lever. Raut said that Raj’s mannerisms were largely similar to those of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, but even comedians can imitate, but “that doesn’t make one a leader like Balasaheb”.
Reacting to India TV Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma’s iconic show ‘Aap Ki Adalat’ on Saturday (February 25), Sanjay Raut said, ‘Even comedians and mimicry artists like Johnny Lever and Raju Srivastava can copy. But he doesn’t. Don’t make anyone like Balasaheb a leader.
Rajat Sharma: You were close to the Thackeray family. Can you tell why Raj Thackeray parted ways with Uddhav Thackeray?
Sanjay Raut: “It was his wish (his wish). There are two or four brothers in a family, and they go their own way. They thought I could do something different. They formed their own party. If formed own party, Should have walked, now he has nothing. Sometimes with BJP, sometimes walks with them.. Even Shinde feels he has potential to become PM. Rane feels he Can become CM or PM. Let them go and show their potential.”
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Rajat Sharma: Don’t you think that Raj Thackeray looks like a reflection of Balasaheb while speaking?
Sanjay Raut: “Johnny Lever does everyone’s face. Raju Shrivastav does a lot of face. Sunil Pal’s face is always visible. Meaning eh nahin ki sab Balasaheb Thackeray ban gaye. Main Balasaheb jaisa likhta hoon toh log bolte hain aap Balasaheb ban gaye.
(Johnny Lever does everyone’s mimicry. Raju Srivastava used to do good mimicry. I also see Sunil Pal’s mimicry. Balasaheb likes to watch him. He used to invite him to his court. Others mimic Balasaheb, but don’t mean It is not that he became Balasaheb Thackeray.) I write like Balasaheb, and people tell me that you are Balasaheb now. I tell them, there is only one Balasaheb. I don’t copy.)