Tanushree Dutta Says Nana Patekar Made Her Life ‘Hell’ as Controversy Continues After His Death

Controversy surrounding Bollywood actor Nana Patekar continues even after his death. Actress Tanushree Dutta, who previously accused him of sexual harassment, has claimed that she endured years of distress because of him. She also alleges that she continues to face negative comments and online attacks following his death.

According to a report by The Telegraph, Dutta recently spoke about her prolonged suffering in a video posted on Instagram. She claimed that her life became “hell” after she spoke out against Patekar in 2018 and that she repeatedly worried about her personal safety.

Dutta alleged that Patekar behaved inappropriately towards her while an item song was being filmed for the 2008 movie Horn ‘OK’ Pleassss. She brought the allegations back into the public spotlight in 2018, helping give fresh momentum to India’s #MeToo movement.

In her Instagram video, Dutta said that before the #MeToo movement, she exercised five days a week and travelled to different countries without fear. After speaking publicly about her allegations, however, she experienced incidents that she said were too difficult to describe fully on social media.

She claimed that her car’s brakes were tampered with in 2024 and alleged that groups of people had followed her on several occasions.

Dutta did not immediately comment publicly after learning of Patekar’s death. In an Instagram Story video, she said she would speak once she had worked out how to respond. She has now addressed the issue, saying that negative comments about her began circulating on social media even after the actor’s death.

According to Dutta, some people have urged her to forgive Patekar. She questioned why she should be expected to forgive someone who, she says, never apologised to her.

She argued that a person’s death does not automatically erase allegations of wrongdoing or the suffering described by those who say they were harmed.

Dutta also said that someone may have had a positive experience with Patekar, but that should not be used to dismiss the experiences of others. She stressed that her own experience with the actor might differ from that of other people.

Speaking about forgiveness, Dutta said that acknowledging wrongdoing and apologising should come first. In her view, a person must recognise the harm they caused before asking to be forgiven.

Expressing anger over continued negative comments, Dutta said that when she describes the death as the “death of evil,” she is speaking from her own personal experience. She alleged that the consequences of her experience with Patekar have continued even after his death.

She also criticised YouTubers and other social media users who have commented on her, alleging that some are doing so mainly to gain views and likes. She urged her critics to imagine themselves in her position before judging her.

Dutta claimed that life became so difficult after 2018 that she was able to share only a small part of her experiences in interviews. She said the challenges became particularly relentless after 2020 and alleged that Patekar was not the only person involved in making her life difficult.

Describing the impact of her experience, Dutta referred to Patekar as the biggest “evil force” in her life, saying, “He made my life hell.”

Following Dutta’s allegations in 2018, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against Patekar. He denied the allegations from the outset. The case was later closed due to a lack of sufficient evidence.

Dutta is known for films including Aashiq Banaya Aapne, Chocolate and Dhol. Her latest comments have brought renewed attention to the longstanding controversy. Her allegations and account of personal experiences, however, should be distinguished from the legal outcome of the case.