Tanushree Dutta faces backlash over ‘evil dead’ comments after Nana Patekar’s death

Tanushree Dutta had accused Nana Patekar of sexual harassment and intimidation on the set of the 2009 film Horn 'Ok' Pleassss, sparking India's #MeToo wave.

Tanushree Dutta had accused Nana Patekar of sexual harassment and intimidation on the set of the 2009 film Horn 'Ok' Pleassss, sparking India's #MeToo wave.

Dutta had accused Patekar of sexual harassment in 2018 in connection with the shooting of their 2009 film Horn 'Ok' Pleassss. Patekar consistently denied the allegations.

The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has strongly condemned actress Tanushree Dutta’s reaction to the death of veteran actor Nana Patekar. Following Patekar’s demise at the age of 75, Tanushree reportedly referred to the late actor as “evil dead” in a social media post, prompting a strong response from the organisation. AICWA Founder and President Suresh Shyamlal Gupta termed her remarks “cheap publicity” and criticised her for making such a statement amid widespread mourning in the film industry.AICWA Condemns Tanushree Dutta’s RemarksIn an official statement, AICWA wrote, “AICWA strongly condemns Tanushree Dutta’s ‘Evil Dead’ remark on the passing of legend Nana Patekar.” The organisation highlighted Patekar’s contribution to the country and cinema, referring to him as a Padma Shri awardee, his service during the Kargil War and his work through the Naam Foundation, which has supported families of farmers in distress. AICWA also expressed solidarity with Patekar’s family during their time of grief. View this post on Instagram A post shared by All Indian Cine Workers Association (@aicwaofficial) Calling Tanushree’s remark “deeply objectionable, insensitive and shameful”, AICWA added, “At such a time, Tanushree Dutta’s statement on social media, in which she used the words ‘Evil Dead’, is deeply objectionable, insensitive and shameful. AICWA strongly condemns it.” The organisation further argued that making such remarks about someone who has died “goes against basic humanity”.AICWA also criticised Tanushree for allegedly discussing her own professional plans in the same context, writing, “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.” The organisation added, “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.”'Evil Dead': Did Tanushree Dutta React To Nana Patekar's Death, Offer Condolences To Family Years After #MeToo Allegations? VIDEOTaking a further dig at the actress, AICWA claimed that people were not interested in her upcoming events in Lucknow or London. The statement concluded, “On a day when the country is mourning the loss of a stalwart, speaking about your own event and your own plans reflects a very small mindset.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by FPJ Lifestyle (@fpjlifestyle) Tanushree seemingly reacted to Nana Patekar’s death on Instagram, saying she had “heard the news” but wanted to focus on her work event in Lucknow. She said she was worried the media would be interested in “evil dead” by evening and added, “I will give my reaction once I figure out what kind of reaction I should have. So, definitely condolences to the family but...” Her video ended mid-sentence.

Veteran actor Nana Patekar passed away on Thursday at the age of 75. He took his last breath at his house in Goa and died due to cardiac arrest. While many Bollywood celebrities mourned the actor's death, everyone was keen to know how Tanushree Dutta would react. The actress shared a video from an airport and revealed that she is travelling and that she came to know about it through the news. Dutta didn't mention anyone's name but offered condolences to the family, and while describing the person who died, she used the term 'evil dead'. Netizens Slam Tanushree Dutta's Remarks The actress didn't take anyone's name, but on social media, people are stating that she reacted to Patekar's demise. Well, Dutta's statement, and especially the term 'evil dead', has not gone down well with netizens, and they are slamming her.A netizen tweeted, "SHAME ON TANUSHREE DUTTA Using this kind of derogatory language for a Veteran actor who has just left for his heavenly abode, PATHETIC (sic)."Another X user wrote, "If utter shame has voice or face... This is really a cruel act by Tanushree Dutta here, at the time of someone's demise & that too of a brilliant actor in our #IndianCinema. RIP #NanaPatekar, you will be missed by all the movie buffs. Om Shanti (sic)."One more netizen tweeted, "This is Pathetic! Tanushree Dutta reacts to Nana Patekar’s demise, saying she has an important event today and expects media questions, adding that she’s prepared to share her reaction.. #NanaPatekar #TanushreeDutta #Bollywood (sic)." Check out the tweets below... Tanushree Dutta-Nana Patekar ControversyMany years ago, actress Tanushree Dutta accused Patekar of harassment on the sets of the film Horn Ok' Pleassss. She stated that the veteran behaved inappropriately and insisted on an intimate dance step she had previously refused. Later, during an interview in 2018, she spoke about the incident again amid the #MeToo movement.

Actress Tanushree Dutta seemingly reacted to the death of veteran actor Nana Patekar on Thursday (October 8), amid their history linked to the #MeToo movement. Dutta shared a video on her Instagram story in which she spoke about the news and offered condolences to the actor’s family. However, she did not name Nana Patekar anywhere in the video.Nana Patekar, 74, died at 5:20 am on Thursday after suffering a cardiac arrest in Goa. Following news of his death, Tanushree took to social media and said she had heard about the development. She also mentioned that she was travelling to Lucknow for a work event and wanted to focus on her professional commitments.Nana Patekar Spoke About Death 4 Days Before His Demise In Goa: 'Don't Know I Will Be Here Tomorrow Or Not' - VIDEOIn the video, Tanushree said, "Maine suna hai, I've heard the news. Today is my work day. I'm going to Lucknow for an event and I want to focus on that. 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, post content and now I'm worried that in the evening all the media is going to be interested in evil dead."She further said, "So I will give my reaction once I figure out what kind of reaction I should have. Definitely condolences to the family."While Tanushree acknowledged the news and expressed condolences, she did not directly mention Nana by name in the video. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FPJ Lifestyle (@fpjlifestyle) Her reaction comes years after she accused the actor of harassment and misbehaviour on the sets of the 2008 film Horn Ok Pleasss. Her allegations in 2018 became one of the developments that brought the #MeToo movement into the spotlight in India.What Happened Between Tanushree And Nana?In October 2018, Tanushree filed a complaint against Nana and three others, alleging that she was harassed and misbehaved with during the shooting of a song for Horn Ok Pleasss in 2008. The allegations sparked discussion across the Indian film industry and social media, with several women subsequently coming forward with their own accounts during the #MeToo movement.In 2019, the police filed a final report before a magistrate court, stating that its investigation had not found anything incriminating against the accused. The police report described the FIR as false. Tanushree subsequently filed a protest petition, asking the court to reject the B-summary report and order a further investigation into her complaint.In 2025, a Mumbai court refused to take cognisance of the allegations, observing that the complaint had been filed "beyond the period of limitation" without an explanation for the delay.Inside Nana Patekar’s Goa House Where He Took His Last Breath; A Look At His Modern Beachside Residence The magistrate noted that Tanushree had filed the FIR in 2018 under Sections 354 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code over an alleged incident from March 23, 2008. The court observed that both offences carried a limitation period of three years under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

Tanushree Dutta said, "I will give my reaction once I figure out what kind of reactions I should have"

Tanushree Dutta accused Nana Patekar of sexual harassment during the filming of Horn 'Ok' Pleassss, allegations he denied, and in June 2019, he was cleared of the charges by the police