Nana Patekar passed away in Goa on October 8 at the age of 75 due to cardiac arrest. As tributes poured in for his five decade long career and his philanthropic work for farmers, an uncomfortable conversation resurfaced online.
It started after Tanushree Dutta, who had accused the late actor of alleged sexual harassment on the sets of Horn Ok Pleassss in 2008 and again during India’s MeToo movement in 2018, referred to the news as “evil dead” in an Instagram story.
She later said she stood by her allegations 100 percent and claimed that a key witness, her hairdresser who had allegedly given an affidavit saying she had witnessed the incident, was to submit evidence on the day the case was closed.
That witness account is not new. In 2018, journalist Janice Sequeira had published a detailed eyewitness account of the events on set, which many in Bollywood cited when they supported Tanushree Dutta at the time.
The backlash against the actress after Nana Patekar’s death is what prompted Sona Mohapatra to speak up. Here’s what she said on X:
“Death deserves dignity. So do the living. Mourning an actor is one thing. Demanding that a woman who spoke up about her trauma just shut up is another. Since when did death erase uncomfortable truths?”
Her post directly echoed the sentiment many are now asking: An AD describes witnessing alleged misconduct on set, a journalist says she saw it, a hairdresser allegedly files an affidavit. Yet the chorus continues, “How can you believe one woman?” How many witnesses will satisfy you? 10? 100?
Sona Mohapatra questioned the logic that philanthropy or old age should shield someone from accountability.
For the record,Nana Patekar had consistently denied the allegations made by Tanushree and called them false. In 2019, Mumbai Police filed a B-summary report closing the case citing lack of sufficient evidence.
In March 2025, a magistrate court disposed of the proceedings on grounds of delay in filing the FIR.
The question now is not about celebrating or vilifying. It is about whether we can hold two truths at once. That a great actor can leave behind great work, and still have uncomfortable chapters in his legacy that deserve to be remembered honestly.
