/> Jaya Bachchan's statement on Saturday at the music release of Drona regarding her insistence on speaking in Hindi, snowballed into an unforeesen embarrassment.

On Monday night Jaya expressed regret at hurting the sentiments of some people in Maharashtra.

"I was in Hyderabad yesterday and I had no idea of what was brewing in Mumbai. My remarks at the music release of Drona were not meant to hurt anyone sentiments. I speak Hindi.

A couple of television channels have blown my statements out of proportion. I'm not the kind of person who makes offensive remarks about anyone, least of all people in a city and state which have given so much to me and my family.

Maharashtra is my karam-bhoomi. We in our family have tremendous love and respect for the state, and nothing can take that away from us."

Going back to her ostensibly offensive remarks at the music-release function Jaya laughs, "I never thought my innocent remarks would create such a negative impact.

I am comfortable in Hindi. That's the language I think in. And that's the language I prefer to speak in. But for the information of those who think I meant offence against the Marathi language, let me also say I speak Marathi and I speak it quite well.

Like I said, if I've inadvertently hurt anyone's sentiments I regret the hurt caused."