Actor Tanushree Dutta has spoken out against the backlash she has faced on social media following the reported death of veteran actor Nana Patekar, recalling the difficulties she says she endured after accusing him of sexual harassment in 2018. Dutta alleged that her life changed drastically after the controversy, claiming she faced intimidation, threats and incidents that left her fearing for her safety.
In a video shared on Instagram on Friday, the actor expressed frustration over the negative messages directed at her and questioned why she was being criticised for speaking about her personal experiences. She also maintained that someone's death should not automatically erase the allegations or the suffering of those who have accused them of wrongdoing.
Tanushree Dutta recalls struggles after #MeToo
Dutta's allegations against Patekar date back to the filming of the 2008 movie Horn Ok Pleassss. She had accused the actor of misbehaving with her while they were shooting an item song for the film. When she reiterated her allegations in October 2018, the controversy became a significant moment in India's #MeToo movement.
Recalling her life before and after the controversy, Dutta said she had once travelled freely and maintained an active lifestyle without worrying about personal security. However, she alleged that her circumstances changed following the allegations.
“The girl who used to work out five days a week, who used to roam around the world without fear, I never had any security issues and no trouble travelling anywhere,” she said in the video.
The actor further claimed that she experienced incidents she found difficult to discuss publicly and alleged that people followed her after the controversy. She also referred to an incident in 2024 in which, according to her, someone tampered with her car's brakes.
Dutta said the experiences she has described publicly represent only a fraction of what she claims to have gone through since 2018.
Questions calls for forgiveness after Patekar's death
The actor's latest comments followed her initial response to news of Patekar's reported death on Thursday. In an Instagram Story, Dutta had said she needed time to decide how she wanted to react to the news.
She subsequently criticised people who were sending her hostile messages and urging her to forgive the actor. Dutta argued that a person's death does not automatically settle questions surrounding alleged wrongdoing or erase the experiences of those who say they were harmed.
She also pointed out that her personal experience with Patekar was different from the experiences others may have had with him.
Responding to those asking her to forgive him, Dutta said she believed an apology and an acknowledgment of wrongdoing were necessary. She alleged that Patekar had never apologised to her for what she claimed had happened during the film's production.
For Dutta, the controversy remains deeply personal. She said the criticism she is receiving following the news of his death has brought renewed attention to a period of her life that she describes as extremely distressing.
Actor calls out social media commentators
Dutta also targeted YouTubers and social media users whom she accused of using the controversy to generate views and engagement. She urged them to consider the emotional and personal consequences of the experiences she has described before commenting on her response.
According to the actor, the difficulties did not end with the initial allegations in 2018. She claimed that the years that followed, particularly the period after 2020, brought continuing struggles and fear.
Describing the impact the controversy had on her life, Dutta said, “He made my life hell,” reiterating that her reaction was rooted in her own experience rather than the way others viewed the actor.
Her remarks have once again brought attention to the challenges faced by people who speak publicly about alleged sexual harassment, including the online scrutiny and backlash that can follow such disclosures.
What happened in the 2018 case?
Dutta's allegations against Patekar in 2018 drew widespread attention and became part of the broader #MeToo conversation in India. An FIR was registered following her allegations, while Patekar consistently denied the charges.
The case was subsequently closed due to insufficient evidence.
Dutta's latest statements reflect her continuing distress over the episode and her objection to being pressured into forgiveness. Her claims about subsequent incidents and the impact on her life remain her account of the events, while the allegations against Patekar were denied and the case was closed due to insufficient evidence.
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