Veteran actor Nana Patekar dies of heart attack at 75 in Goa
The actor suffered a severe heart attack at his home in Dona Paula and was declared dead at about 5.20 am; the Tanushree Dutta case is being discussed again.
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Veteran actor Nana Patekar has died at the age of 75. He suffered a severe heart attack at his home in Dona Paula, Goa. He was taken to hospital, but doctors could not save him despite their efforts. He was declared dead at about 5.20 am. His sudden death has come as a major shock to everyone.
The news has plunged the Marathi and Hindi film industries into mourning. With his distinctive acting, forceful delivery of dialogue and impactful roles, he had carved out a separate identity in Indian cinema. Many artistes from the entertainment industry and fans are paying tribute to him on social media.
Over his long career, some controversies in his life were also discussed from time to time. The most talked-about of these was the sexual harassment allegation made by actress Tanushree Dutta.
Dutta had alleged that Patekar misbehaved with her and sexually harassed her on the set of the film Horn 'Ok' Pleassss in 2008. She had said she complained to the Cine and TV Artists Association (CINTAA) in March 2008. It later emerged, however, that no action was taken on that complaint as expected.
She repeated the allegations in an interview in 2013. In 2018, she again spoke publicly about the incident. The allegations gave a major push to the Me Too movement in India, particularly in Bollywood.
Towards the end of 2018, CINTAA apologised to Dutta and admitted that her main complaint of sexual harassment in 2008 had not been properly addressed. The association also made clear that because so many years had passed, the case could not be reopened.
Dutta then filed a complaint with the Maharashtra State Commission for Women. She made allegations against Patekar as well as choreographer Ganesh Acharya, producer Sami Siddiqui, director Rakesh Sarang and some MNS workers.
On October 1, 2018, an FIR was registered against Patekar and the other accused at Oshiwara police station. Charges relating to outraging a woman's modesty and obscenity under the Indian Penal Code were booked against them.
In June 2019, the Oshiwara police filed a B-Summary report in the case. The report suggested that Dutta's complaint could have been malicious or motivated by vengeance. This brought relief to Patekar at the level of the police investigation.
It was then said that Dutta was likely to approach a court to have the case reopened. Following Patekar's death, his long artistic career and the various episodes of his life are being discussed again.
