Mumbai: Malhar Patekar, son of late veteran actor Nana Patekar, has responded to the renewed controversy surrounding Tanushree Dutta’s allegations against his father, saying the legal case had already concluded and questioning why the issue continues to be discussed. He also dismissed rumours about his parents’ relationship and said his father was never alone during his final days.
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Malhar addressed the comments made by Tanushree following Nana Patekar’s death on October 8 in Goa. Without naming the actor directly, he said the matter had already been dealt with through the legal system and that he did not wish to engage in further exchanges.
“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, indicating that the case had been concluded despite the continued public discussion.
He added that he did not want to make further comments about those revisiting the matter.
“Aise logo ko mein unko kuch nahi boluga; joh sach hai wahi rahega, bhagwan unka bhala kare,” Malhar said, adding that he wished them well.
His remarks come amid renewed public discussion of the allegations Tanushree made against Nana Patekar during India’s #MeToo movement in 2018. The controversy resurfaced after Tanushree reacted to the veteran actor’s death on social media.
What Malhar said about Tanushree Dutta’s remarks
Tanushree accused Nana Patekar and others of sexually harassing her on the sets of the film Horn ‘Ok’ Pleassss, which she eventually left. Her allegations against the actor, choreographer Ganesh Acharya and the film’s producer became part of the wider #MeToo conversation in India.
Following Nana Patekar’s death, Tanushree posted a video on Instagram Stories in which she referred to him as the “evil dead”. She subsequently told the media that she would not forget what she alleged had happened to her on the film set or how the experience had affected her.
The remarks prompted criticism from some quarters and brought the earlier allegations back into public discussion.
Malhar did not name Tanushree while responding to the controversy. Instead, he referred generally to people continuing to raise the matter and maintained that the legal proceedings had already ended.
The legal history requires an important distinction. Nana Patekar denied the allegations, and the police closed the case in 2019, citing insufficient evidence. Criminal proceedings were subsequently dismissed by a Mumbai court in 2025 on limitation grounds, according to reports. The legal outcome should not be conflated with a judicial finding that every allegation was false.
Malhar’s latest comments reflect the family’s position on the renewed discussion following his father’s death. They do not, by themselves, resolve the broader public debate surrounding Tanushree’s account.
Malhar dismisses rumours about Nana Patekar’s family
In the same interview, Malhar also addressed speculation about his parents, Nana Patekar and Neelakanti Patekar.
Reports over the years have suggested that the couple had separated, leading to questions about their relationship and family life. Malhar pushed back against the assumptions circulating online, saying that social media posts were not a reliable measure of how a family relates to one another.
“Itna sab kuch viral ho raha, woh kitna ghalat hai,” he said, suggesting that much of what was being circulated was incorrect.
He explained that the absence of family photographs on Instagram should not be interpreted as a lack of closeness. He also said that, despite the changes in his parents’ relationship, they had maintained an amicable bond over the years.
“Just because we don’t share family pics on Insta, that doesn’t mean we don’t bond,” he said.
Malhar added that his parents had shared a relationship spanning approximately 38 to 39 years and that the reality of their family life was not necessarily reflected in public speculation.
He also spoke warmly about his childhood, saying that both his parents had given him a good upbringing.
His comments sought to counter the idea that the family’s private arrangements could be accurately understood through rumours or the limited information available on social media.
Malhar says Nana was never alone in his final days
Malhar also responded to speculation about his father’s health and whether he had been alone shortly before his death.
He said the family had remained by Nana Patekar’s side and that at least one family member was always present.
“The things I read, usska jawab yeh hain ke woh akele nahi thhe, kabhi nahin thhe,” Malhar said, adding that his father had never been alone during his final days.
He also rejected suggestions that the actor had been unwell for an extended period, describing him as physically active and committed to fitness.
According to Malhar, Nana regularly spent around two-and-a-half hours working out at a gym. He said his father’s fitness routine was demanding even by the standards of younger people.
The comments offered the family’s account of the veteran actor’s health and circumstances before his death. Nana Patekar died in Goa on October 8 after suffering a cardiac arrest, according to reports. He was 75.
His death prompted tributes from colleagues, filmmakers and admirers who remembered his decades-long contribution to Indian cinema.
Social work became an important part of Nana Patekar’s life
Beyond the controversy, Malhar spoke about his father’s involvement in social work, saying it had become a major source of purpose and satisfaction for the actor in recent years.
He suggested that Nana’s growing commitment to social causes was one reason he had become more selective about film projects.
“He didn’t want to do films as repetitive ho gya tha, so he wanted to make his own stories. He believed in evolving as an actor,” Malhar said.
He recalled his father’s belief that an actor should continue to explore different kinds of work rather than repeatedly play similar characters.
“Kaam ek jaisa nahin hona chahiye,” he said, explaining that his father did not want to keep doing the same kind of work.
Malhar cited Khamoshi: The Musical as an example of Nana’s willingness to take on a different kind of role. He said his father wanted to demonstrate that he could deliver a strong performance without relying on the forceful dialogue delivery associated with many of his well-known characters.
Malhar also highlighted his father’s work on initiatives related to schools in Kashmir and support for farmers. He said social work had brought Nana a sense of peace and happiness and indicated that continuing this work had now become a responsibility he intended to carry forward.
Nana Patekar’s legacy in cinema
Nana Patekar built a career spanning five decades, earning recognition for his intense performances, distinctive dialogue delivery and ability to move between serious dramas and mainstream entertainment.
A theatre actor before becoming a prominent film performer, he made his Hindi film debut with Gaman in 1978. He went on to appear in several critically acclaimed and commercially successful films.
His notable performances included Parinda (1989), Prahaar (1991), Tiranga (1993), Krantiveer (1994), Agni Sakshi (1996), Khamoshi: The Musical (1996), Yeshwant (1997), Ab Tak Chhappan (2004), Apaharan (2005), Taxi No. 9 2 11 (2006), Welcome (2007), Raajneeti (2010) and Shagird (2011).
His work earned him major recognition, including National Film Awards, and established him as one of the distinctive performers in Hindi and Marathi cinema.
Nana was cremated with full state honours at the family’s farmhouse near Pune on October 8. Family members, friends and colleagues from the film industry attended his final rites.
Malhar says family will continue his father’s work
Malhar’s comments have addressed several issues that emerged following Nana Patekar’s death, including Tanushree Dutta’s renewed remarks, speculation about the family’s private life and questions about the actor’s health.
While he has said he does not wish to prolong the dispute over the earlier allegations, he also used the interview to highlight the family’s experience of life with Nana and the importance of his social work.
His remarks suggest that continuing initiatives supporting schools and farmers will remain a priority for him.
As tributes continue to recall Nana Patekar’s contribution to cinema, Malhar’s account has offered a personal perspective on the veteran actor’s final years and the causes that occupied much of his time beyond films.