Filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar Defends Late Actor Nana Patekar Over Old Controversy

Filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar recently spoke about his late friend and actor Nana Patekar, expressing regret that he could not meet him one last time before his death on October 8. Mahesh also revisited the Tanushree Dutta controversy involving Nana, claiming the issue was brought back into the spotlight without any reason.

The Controversy

Speaking to News18 Marathi, Mahesh stated that he knew everyone present on the sets of the film Horn Ok Pleassss and was familiar with what happened during the shoot. He claimed that people on the set told him nothing at all had happened, yet the matter was highlighted unnecessarily. Mahesh said Nana suffered a lot for no reason, adding that social media allows everyone to have an opinion with no cure for it. In 2018, Tanushree Dutta accused Nana of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour during a song shoot in March 2008 for the same film, and also alleged her car was attacked by a mob as she left. The allegations resurfaced in September 2018 in an interview that helped trigger India's #MeToo movement, followed by an FIR filed in October 2018 against Nana, Ganesh, Rakesh, and Samee. Nana consistently denied all allegations, and in June 2019, Mumbai Police filed a B-summary closure report citing insufficient evidence. After Nana's death, Tanushree again spoke about the issue and shared videos on social media. Nana Patekar passed away in a Goa hospital on October 8, 2026, at age 75 from a heart attack, after doctors attempted CPR for about 45 minutes.

Context

Public controversies involving film personalities often resurface around major life events or deaths, sparking renewed public debate on social media. Such situations highlight the lasting impact of high-profile legal and personal disputes in the entertainment industry.