Mumbai: Actress Tanushree Dutta has drawn criticism on social media after describing late actor Nana Patekar as “evil” following his death.
Her remarks have sparked a debate online, with several users questioning the timing and tone of her comments.
Patekar passed away on October 8 following a cardiac arrest in Goa. After news of his death surfaced, Tanushree shared a video on Instagram, revealing that she learnt about the actor’s demise while getting ready to travel to Lucknow for a work commitment.
However, her remarks, particularly her use of the phrase “evil dead”, sparked a wave of reactions online, with several social media users calling her comments insensitive in the wake of Patekar’s death.
Reacting to her remarks, one social media user commented, “This is Pathetic 😤😠 #TanushreeDutta says she’s heard about #NanaPatekar’s demise and is worried that her event might get affect by this.”
This is Pathetic 😤😠
#TanushreeDutta says she’s heard about #NanaPatekar’s demise and is worried that her event might get affect by this. “Evil Dead.Such an odd day. I have an important event today and now this. Media will be asking questions and I’ll give my reaction to all of them.”
— $@M (@SAMTHEBESTEST_) October 8, 2026
Another commented, “#TanushreeDutta is filthing poison on Nana sir even today what type of human being she is.”
A third social media user, however, offered a more measured perspective on the controversy and wrote on X, “Tanushree Dutta’s reaction to the reports about Nana Patekar has sparked fresh debate online. Whatever their past differences, many believe moments like these call for empathy before anything else.”
Tanushree Dutta’s reaction to the reports about Nana Patekar has sparked fresh debate online. Whatever their past differences, many believe moments like these call for empathy before anything else. https://t.co/WWrip3kTZ6
— Himanshu Yadav (@HimashuYadav07) October 8, 2026
Another user criticised her remarks, writing, “This is negative statement to call someone evil dead especially on the day he passed away. So inhumane behaviour.”
Another social media user questioned her reaction, asking, “Have u heard the word humanity?”
In the video, Tanushree revealed that she had learnt about Patekar’s death while travelling to Lucknow for an important event.
She said that while she wanted to focus on her professional commitments, she was concerned that the news of Patekar’s death might overshadow media coverage of her event.
“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 said.
Describing it as an “odd day”, Tanushree said, “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’. So I will give my reaction once I figure out what kind of reaction I should have. Definitely condolences to the family.”
Tanushree Dutta and Nana Patekar were involved in one of the most widely discussed controversies during India’s #MeToo movement in 2018.
Tanushree had accused Patekar of inappropriate behaviour and sexual harassment while shooting a song for the 2008 film Horn Ok Pleassss. She alleged that the incident occurred at Mumbai’s Filmistan Studios, where the song was being filmed. Patekar, however, denied the allegations.
