- October 9, 2026
Why Tanushree Dutta Said ‘Evil Is Dead’ On Hearing Of Nana Patekar’s Death: The #MeToo Allegations & Court Battle
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Nana Patekar-Tanushree Dutta #MeToo Row Timeline: What were the allegations? What happened when they reached cops, court? Did it impact their careers?
Nana Patekar passed away on October 8.
What was the Nana Patekar-Tanushree Dutta legal battle, which serves as the foundational catalyst for the #MeToo movement in India?
A recap of the case following the death of veteran actor Nana Patekar on October 8, 2026. What were the allegations, probe and impact?
NANA PATEKAR’S DEATH
Patekar died from a severe cardiac arrest at the age of 75. He passed away in the early hours of October 8, 2026, and was declared dead at 5:20 AM. He suffered the medical emergency at his home in Dona Paula, Goa.
After feeling unwell and losing consciousness, emergency responders and a medical team administered continuous CPR for about 45 minutes. He was rushed to Manipal Hospital in Goa around 4:20–4:30 AM, where doctors continued resuscitation efforts before declaring him brought dead.
Because he was not a regular patient at the hospital, a medico-legal case (MLC) was registered and his body was taken to Goa Medical College for a post-mortem examination. He was cremated with full state honours at his farmhouse in Donje village near Pune, Maharashtra.
THE 2008 INCIDENT
At A Glance
Nana Patekar died from a severe cardiac arrest at age 75 on October 8, 2026.
Tanushree Dutta alleged Patekar harassed her during the filming of Horn ‘Ok’ Pleassss in March 2008.
Dutta’s 2018 statements triggered India’s national #MeToo movement.
In June 2019, Mumbai Police filed a ‘B-Summary’ closure report, finding no sufficient evidence against Patekar.
The Mumbai Andheri Magistrate Court dismissed Dutta’s criminal complaints in 2025 due to lack of evidence and delayed filing.
Dutta alleged that during the filming of a special song sequence for the movie Horn ‘Ok’ Pleassss in March 2008, Patekar harassed her on set. She claimed he insisted on introducing inappropriate, intimate dance steps that were not part of her contract, despite her explicit objections. Dutta left the set in protest. She filed a complaint with the Cine & TV Artists Association (CINTAA) in 2008, but no significant action was taken at the time. Patekar vehemently denied the allegations.
THE 2018 #METOO IGNITION
Ten years later, in September 2018, Dutta revisited the allegations during a series of media interviews. Her statements went viral, triggering India’s national #MeToo movement, encouraging numerous women across the Indian media and entertainment industries to speak out about workplace sexual harassment.
In October 2018, Dutta formally lodged an FIR at the Oshiwara police station against Nana Patekar, choreographer Ganesh Acharya, director Rakesh Sarang, and producer Samee Siddiqui.
THE INVESTIGATION
In June 2019, the Mumbai Police filed a ‘B-Summary’ closure report in court, stating they found no sufficient evidence to prosecute Patekar or substantiate the allegations. Dutta strongly opposed this and sought to file a protest petition.
The legal dispute effectively closed in 2025 when the Mumbai Andheri Magistrate Court officially dismissed Dutta’s criminal complaints of sexual harassment against Patekar and the three co-accused, citing a lack of evidence and an unjustified delay in filing the complaint.
THE IMPACT
The case had a significant short-term impact on Nana Patekar’s career, though his professional standing largely stabilized after he was cleared by the police. The most immediate and high-profile consequence occurred in October 2018. Following Tanushree Dutta’s public allegations, Patekar was forced to step down from the blockbuster comedy Housefull 4. He had already shot major portions of the film in Jaipur, but his role was subsequently replaced by actor Rana Daggubati.
Following the intense media storm, Patekar entered a period of relative professional exile. He stepped back from public life and major film sets to avoid worsening the controversy while the Mumbai Police investigation was active.
Once the Mumbai Police issued its “B-Summary” closure report in June 2019 due to insufficient evidence, the unofficial industry boycott began to dissolve.
Patekar slowly returned to mainstream acting. He made a prominent comeback starring in filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri’s bio-science drama The Vaccine War (2023) and featured in Vishal Bhardwaj’s gritty crime action film O’Romeo (2026).
He continued to work on massive projects right up until his demise on October 8, 2026, leaving behind several post-production projects slated for release (including Eetha and Shakti Shalini). He also maintained widespread public respect through his philanthropic work with the [Naam Foundation].
Tanushree Dutta’s career, by contrast, effectively ended. After sparking the movement, she faced intense industry isolation, stopped receiving mainstream acting offers, and eventually relocated to the United States to transition into the tech industry.
CURRENT CONTROVERSY
Following the news of Nana Patekar’s passing from cardiac arrest on October 8, 2026, the controversy resurfaced in public discourse.
In interviews with news agencies, Dutta called Patekar an “arrogant man” and labeled his death an “act of God” and “evil dead” because “that devil wasn’t stopping” and allegedly continued to trouble her.
She claimed that it took five years to convince her prime witness (her hairdresser) to submit an affidavit, but alleges the judge closed the case on the exact day that evidence was supposed to be formally presented.
The All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) heavily criticized Dutta’s post-demise comments, slamming them as an attempt at “cheap publicity”.
Quick Answers
Ask News18Tanushree Dutta alleged that Nana Patekar sexually harassed her on March 26, 2008, by insisting on inappropriate and intimate dance steps during the shooting of a song for the movie Horn ‘Ok’ Pleassss at Filmistan Studios in Mumbai, and that her car was attacked when she objected and left the set.
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At the news desk for 20 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing speci…Read More
October 09, 2026, 14:57 IST
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