Mumbai: Malhar Patekar, son of late actor Nana Patekar, has responded to the controversy reignited by Tanushree Dutta following the veteran actor’s death on October 8.
Without mentioning the actress by name, Malhar maintained that the legal case being discussed had already been concluded and questioned the need to bring it up again.
Nana reportedly died of a heart attack in Goa at the age of 75.
Following news of his death, Tanushree made several statements revisiting the sexual harassment allegations she had levelled against the actor years ago and raising questions about the circumstances surrounding his passing.
In an interaction with Hindustan Times, Malhar addressed the renewed controversy but refrained from directly confronting the person behind the remarks.
“Without naming anyone, I want to say that the case people are bringing up unnecessarily is already over. Judiciary se clear hua hain, case khatam ho chuka; phir bhi bol rahe,” he said.
He further stated that he did not wish to engage in a war of words, adding, “Aise logo ko mein unko kuch nahi boluga; joh sach hai wahi rahega, bhagwan unka bhala kare, this is what I have to say to them.”
Tanushree had accused Nana of sexually harassing her during the filming of Horn ‘Ok’ Pleassss.
The allegations drew widespread attention and became a significant talking point in the Indian film industry.
In June 2019, Mumbai Police filed a closure report in court, stating that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Nana in connection with the allegations.
The legal dispute was reportedly brought to a close in 2025.
After reports of Nana’s death emerged, Tanushree questioned several aspects of the situation.
She raised concerns about the absence of a prayer meeting and claimed that members of the film industry and the media had not been given an opportunity to pay their final respects.
She also made the unsubstantiated claim that Nana had faked his death to evade legal proceedings.
Additionally, she suggested that a DNA test could be conducted if he had altered his appearance.
No evidence has been presented to establish these allegations.
Tanushree subsequently faced criticism for referring to Nana as “evil dead”.
In response to the backlash, she released a video defending her statements and maintained that his death did not invalidate her account of the alleged past incidents.
In the video, she described the actor as a “sadistic, sick psychopath” and called his death “nothing short of a miracle”. She also expressed the view that the suffering she associated with him had finally come to an end.
Her remarks prompted strong reactions on social media, with several people questioning the timing and nature of her comments following the actor’s death.
Malhar’s statement marks a response from Nana’s family to the renewed controversy.
However, he chose not to identify Tanushree directly and instead emphasised that the legal proceedings concerning the earlier allegations had already concluded.
Nana Patekar’s last rites were performed with full state honours at his Donje farmhouse in Pune after sunset.
