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Malhar Patekar responds to renewed discussion surrounding the allegations made by Tanushree Dutta against his father. (Img: X)
Mumbai: Malhar Patekar, son of late Bollywood actor Nana Patekar, has responded to the renewed controversy surrounding sexual harassment allegations levelled against his father by actor Tanushree Dutta, asserting that the legal proceedings in the matter had concluded and questioning why the issue was being raised again.
Speaking to media, Malhar refrained from naming Dutta directly but maintained that the case had already reached its conclusion. “Judiciary se clear hua hain, case khatam ho chuka; phir bhi bol rahe,” he said, adding that he had nothing further to say to those continuing to discuss the matter and wished them well.
His remarks come days after Nana Patekar’s death at the age of 75 in Goa on October 8, which brought renewed attention to the allegations and Dutta’s subsequent statements about her experiences following the controversy.
Dutta had accused Patekar of sexual harassment and intimidation during the filming of Horn ‘Ok’ Pleassss, released in 2009. The allegations resurfaced prominently in 2018 amid India’s #MeToo movement, prompting widespread public discussion about workplace harassment in the entertainment industry.
Patekar denied the allegations. An FIR was registered against him in 2018, but the Mumbai Police subsequently filed a closure report in 2019, citing insufficient evidence to substantiate the allegations.
Following Patekar’s death, Dutta drew criticism on social media after referring to the actor as “evil dead” in an Instagram Story. She later spoke about the personal impact of the events surrounding her allegations, describing the difficulties she claimed to have experienced in the years after speaking out.
In a video posted on social media, Dutta said that her life had changed significantly since the #MeToo controversy. She also alleged that she had faced intimidation and recounted an incident in 2024 in which, she claimed, someone tampered with her car’s brakes. These remain allegations made by Dutta. Her remarks prompted criticism from sections of the public and the film industry, adding another dimension to the debate over the legacy of the late actor.
In the same interview, Malhar also discussed his father’s decision to become more selective about film assignments over the last 15 years. He said Patekar had increasingly wanted to develop original stories rather than continue accepting repetitive roles.
Malhar recalled that his father believed an actor needed to keep evolving and described his work in Khamoshi: The Musical as an example of his willingness to explore a different performance style.
He also said that social initiatives had become an important focus for Patekar in his later years, particularly efforts relating to education in Kashmir and the welfare of farmers. Malhar indicated that continuing this work would be a priority for him as well.
Patekar, whose career spanned several decades in Indian cinema, died following a cardiac arrest in Goa. His death has renewed public discussion about both his cinematic legacy and the allegations that emerged during the #MeToo movement.
