The death of veteran actor Nana Patekar at 75 has led to an outpouring of tributes from the Indian film industry. However, actress Tanushree Dutta, whose name has been linked to Patekar since the sexual harassment allegations that surfaced during India’s #MeToo movement, had a very different reaction.
Following news of Nana Patekar’s death, Tanushree Dutta referred to him as “evil dead” while discussing what she says she went through after speaking publicly about her allegations. Her comments have since drawn criticism from the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA), with its president Suresh Shyamlal Gupta calling the remark “cheap publicity.”
Tanushree, however, has defended her reaction and said she was speaking from her own perspective and about the experiences she claims to have endured over the years.
Tanushree Dutta On Nana Patekar’s Death
Tanushree Dutta reacts on… Actor Nana Patekar demise at the age of 75… 💔
— Sagar_H 🏏 (@SagarH62) October 8, 2026
She said 🗣️:
"I had my entire day planned out.
I wanted to do all these lives and post content and now I'm worried that in the evening,
that's all the media is going to be interested in is Evil Dead" pic.twitter.com/EBESDDnQ6k
Tanushree Dutta initially reacted to Nana Patekar’s death through an Instagram video on October 8. She said she had heard about the news but was focused on a professional event in Lucknow. She said,
“I have heard the news. Today is my work day. I am going to Lucknow for an event, and I want to focus on that.”
She described the situation as an unusual one because she had already planned her day around the event.
“What an odd day for all this to happen. I’m doing a very big event in Lucknow, and I had my entire day planned out. I wanted to do lives and post content. Now, I’m worried that in the evening all the media is going to be interested in ‘evil dead.’ So, I will give my reaction once I figure out what kind of reaction I should have. Definitely condolences to the family.”
Her initial video stopped short of giving a detailed reaction. However, she later spoke about her feelings in greater detail.
“Mere Liye Toh Evil Dead Hi Hai”
Speaking about Nana Patekar’s death, Tanushree Dutta said, “Mere liye toh evil dead hi hai” (For me, it is ‘evil dead’). She then explained that her reaction was connected to what she claims she experienced after speaking out during the #MeToo movement.
“What I’ve been through in the last five years after #MeToo… I’ve been so troubled. Kindly see from my perspective as well. For those who have been victims, who have been troubled… While the case was going on, so much pressure was put on me to drop it. Even then, I didn’t take it back. I was offered temptations, but I didn’t take it (the case) back.”
Tanushree Dutta also spoke about the difficulties she says followed after she raised the allegations.
“After that, I faced so many troubles: my car’s brakes were cut, I had an accident, and food poisoning. Considering the things I have been through [because of the allegation against him], he’s ‘evil dead’ for me. Every person’s situation is different. I’ve spoken from my perspective.”
Her comments make it clear that she views her reaction through the lens of her own experience rather than as a statement about how everyone should respond to Nana Patekar’s passing.
Tanushree Dutta Called Late Nana Patekar, ‘Egoistic Man’
Tanushree Dutta added that it took 5 years to convince her prime witness,
“It took us 5 years to convince a prime witness. She used to get threats. Our prime witness, who was my hairdresser, had given an affidavit in court, saying that whatever madam is saying, I have seen it with my own eyes.”
Tanushree Dutta later reflected on the impact the controversy had on her life. She said that she had felt unsafe and had even considered leaving Mumbai.
“My life had become difficult, but maybe every pain has an end. The last couple of days I have prayed a lot. In fact, I thought of leaving [Mumbai] and settling down in one of my temple towns because I was just not feeling safe. And I don’t know if I am ever going to feel safe after everything that I have endured over the last five to seven years. Maybe one evil person is dead. One person who hated you is dead. But everything that has happened to you leading up to that you can never wipe it out — the scars of this experience since 2018.”
She also spoke about the difficulty of carrying anger and resentment.
“I have never been the kind of person to hold grudges in my heart. But people do. They hold on to old things and don’t admit their mistakes. Life is so short. So, does it mean anything to carry hate in our heart? What is a friend or a foe in the face of death? When death comes, it entraps anyone and everyone. So, perhaps his time had come. What else can I say?”
Tanushree Dutta continued her attack on Nana Patekar and said,
“This Devil was not stopping. He was harassing me constantly. He was a very egoistic man, and God has taken his life because he was not stopping.”
AICWA Condemns Tanushree Dutta’s Remark
The All Indian Cine Workers Association strongly criticised Tanushree’s comments. AICWA president Suresh Shyamlal Gupta called the “evil dead” remark deeply objectionable and insensitive, while accusing Tanushree of seeking “cheap publicity.” The association also highlighted Nana Patekar’s contribution to Indian cinema and his work outside the film industry. Gupta said,
“At such a time, Tanushree Dutta’s statement on social media, in which she used the word ‘evil dead’, is deeply objectionable, insensitive and shameful. AICWA strongly condemns it.”
He further said,
“Until today, no one in our film industry has made such a statement after someone’s passing. You are the first, and we pray you will be the last. People in this industry know what to say on such an occasion and when to stay silent. You should have kept a check on your tongue.”
The association argued that the remark was inappropriate during a period of mourning for the veteran actor.
The Nana Patekar-Tanushree Dutta Controversy
The controversy between Nana Patekar and Tanushree Dutta dates back to an incident associated with the 2008 film Horn Ok Pleassss. In 2018, Tanushree revived her allegations of sexual harassment against Patekar, claiming that he had behaved inappropriately with her while she was shooting for a special song.
Patekar denied the allegations. Tanushree subsequently filed a police complaint against Patekar, choreographer Ganesh Acharya, director Rakesh Sarang and producer Samee Siddiqui.
The allegations became one of the defining stories of India’s #MeToo movement and encouraged several other women to speak publicly about their experiences in the entertainment industry.
The police later closed the case citing insufficient evidence. In 2025, the Mumbai Andheri Magistrate Court also dismissed the criminal proceedings on the ground that the complaint had been filed beyond the applicable limitation period.
Nana Patekar’s Death Brings Old Controversy Back
Nana Patekar died on October 8, 2026, after suffering a cardiac arrest at his residence in Goa. His death has led to tributes from colleagues and fans across the country, but Tanushree’s comments have once again brought their long-running controversy into the spotlight.
Tanushree has made it clear that her reaction comes from her personal experience and the lasting impact she says the episode had on her life. AICWA, meanwhile, has strongly rejected the tone of her comments.
The exchange has reopened a difficult conversation around death, accountability, personal trauma and whether unresolved allegations disappear with a person’s passing.
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