What happened in 2008 between Tanushree Dutta and Nana Patekar, has escalated into a major controversy in 2018, with Dutta leveling charges of sexual harassment opposite the legendary actor. Post the #Meetoo movement and the unparalleled reach of social media, actresses whether in Hollywood and Bollywood are coming out strongly against exploitative behavior by filmmakers and actors.
Tanushree Dutt car attack in 2008 – What really happened
The fateful event happened on March 26, 2008, a Wednesday at Filmistan Studio. The actress had been called upon to rehearse for the dance steps of the song ‘_’ with choreographer Ganesh Acharya. But apparently there was some mix-up and Tanushree Dutta was not aware that it was a rehearsal, and not the final shoot.
When the actress came to know that it was only a rehearsal, Tanushree lost her cool. The matter soon heated up and the producer had to be called in for damage control. Talking to Zee News producer, Sami Siddiqui had said, “She behaved in a completely unacceptable manner. She was informed before hand that the song is an item number, but once we began shooting she stated to object to certain dance moves that involved the dancers and the lead actor Nana Patekar to touch her, which she was not comfortable with.”
Then the actress locked herself in the makeup van for about 5 hours. Reports state that once she emerged out of the vanity van, she lashed out the producer and headed to her car. The actress was accompanied by her father. When she was getting inside the car, her secretary broke the lends of one of the cameramen. This incident infuriated the reporters. So while Tanushree claims that a mob of a certain pollical party blocked her car, it has also been reported that a crew of angered reporters summoned people and had blocked her car for an hour. Neverthless after that incident, the police had to be called in, and both the reporter and Tanushree were called the police station.
Post the allegation of indecent behavior by Tanushree Dutta on the sets of ‘Horn Ok Please’ Nana Patekar addressed a press conference to counter the charges against him. He had said that he was quite shocked by the unexpected allegations. He said, “ Tanushree is my daughter’s age and I have no clue about what made her say such things about me. I have been a part of this film industry since the last 35 years and haven’t had anyone saying such things about me ever.”
He even added, “I was not interested in holding this press conference but was asked to do so by my producer and director as they wanted me to clarify things in the first place to avoid further confusions and to uphold my integrity.”
Tanushree on the other hand, had said to the media, “We’ve been through hell, and back. My car is smashed to pieces due to mob fury. But what has happened to my dignity and selfrespect and my identity as a woman are irreparable,”
Tanushree had added, “From the start I wasn’t comfortable with Nana Patekar’s presence. In fact after the first day of shooting I told my mother something didn’t feel right there.
Nana had just three words O yara re in the song. Still he insisted on being around throughout. That was fine. He’s the film’s hero and it’s his prerogative. But then he started acting hugely aggressive. Instead of the choreographer Nana started showing me the steps. I don’t know since we has become an expert dancer.”
She added that she had made her resentment to the actor’s actors quite clear. “”A couple of times I pushed his hands away when he got too close for comfort. But it didn’t seem to make a difference to him. “ She added, “Nana continued to direct my steps roughly and aggressively. Things got really out of hand when Ganesh incorporated steps where Nana could get physically close to me.”
Tanushree claimed that even after crying in the van and coming out, the crew didn’t seem to change their stand on changing the dance step. She reiterated, “I think the producer, director and choreographer had decided to teach me a lesson. They threatened to call the media on the sets and proclaim I was uncooperative. I didn’t know how serious they were. Nana apparently had left by then.”
She started how a crowd had grown around her and had become unruly.”My car with my parents in it was surrounded by hordes of tv journalists. When they couldn’t get a sound bite from me they pushed themselves into the front seat of my car. When that didn’t work they began banging on the windshield with their cameras. My parents and I were trapped inside my car.
Anything could’ve happened. We frantically tried to call the producer and director. They had both switched off their mobiles.”
As the shooting was stalled because of Tanushree’s relcuatnce to perform the dance number with Nana Patekar, the producer Sami Siddiqui was enraged and cancel the shoot. Then he ousted Tanushree out of the film, to be replaced by Rakhi Sawant.
Now, with Tanushree calling Rakhi classless, the item number and social media mischief-maker has lahsed out at Tanushree and called her a drug addict. Tanushree also added that one of the reasons she had been silent back, was due to political pressure. She said, “Maybe I should’ve stopped talking about it. But I did so only out of fear. I’m a girl from Bihar. I’m seen as an outsider in Mumbai, and I was reminded about it by a very senior member of the film industry recently. When I told him I felt threatened he turned around to ask, ‘who do you think you are, Amitabh Bachchan?’ But this is not about being big or small. It’s about my basic right to work with dignity in the industry. Why are people from within the industry trying to rob me of that right? When I recent attended a CINTA meeting, I felt they were talking Greek.”
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