Tanushree Says Nana Patekar ‘Evil,’ Recalls #MeToo Fight

MUMBAI-Actress Tanushree Dutta, who accused veteran actor Nana Patekar of sexual harassment, has reacted to his demise by referring to him as a ‘Shaitaan’ and describing his death as “evil dead.”

In a video uploaded following Patekar’s death on October 8, Dutta explained that her reaction stemmed from what she said she had endured in the five years after the #MeToo movement brought her allegations into the spotlight.

Dutta alleged that she faced considerable pressure to withdraw her case but stood her ground. She claimed that attempts were made to change her mind through money and that other methods were used when those efforts failed.

“The brakes of my car were cut. I had an accident, food poisoning. The thing that I have gone through, for me, the evil dead is only,” she said.

Dutta also alleged that the case was closed on the day evidence from a key witness was due to be submitted in court. She said it had taken five years to persuade the witness, her hairdresser, to come forward despite alleged threats.

“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,” she said.

Questioning the outcome of the legal proceedings, Dutta said the closure of the case did not mean her allegations were untrue.

“We live in India. Here, it is not necessary that the one who wins is right. Here, no one won. The judge closed the case. But that does not mean that I was not right and he was not wrong,” she said.

Dutta had accused Patekar of allegedly misbehaving with her during the shooting of the film ‘Horn ‘Ok’ Pleassss’ and filed a police complaint. Patekar denied the allegations, calling them false. (IANS)