In the backdrop of the allegations of harassment against veteran actor Nana Patekar by Tanushree Dutta on the sets of a film in 2008, the latter has now filed a police complaint. Dutta, 35, on Saturday, filed a case of sexual harassment and intimidation on the sets of the film Horn Ok Pleasss at Oshiawara police station against Patekar, choreographer Ganesh Acharya, producer Sameer Siddique and director Rakesh Sarang.
A complaint has been lodged for the registration of FIR under Sections 354, 354 (A), Section 34 and Section 509 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Patekar, who had earlier sent her a legal notice to withdraw the allegations and apologise, reiterated his stand and said “Jo jhooth hai, woh jhooth hai. Dus saal pehle iska jawaab de chuka hoon (A lie is a lie. I had said this 10 years ago).”
The shocking allegations have triggered a debate in the film industry on the issue of harassment of women at the workplace with many calling it Bollywood’s own #MeToo movement. Many actors have come out in support of the survivor while others are speaking about their own stories of harassment and abuse.
It all started in 2008 when Patekar was accused of harassment and intimidation. Here’s a brief timeline of events that unfolded:
- During the shooting of the film Horn Ok Pleasss, Nana Patekar allegedly misbehaved with Tanushree Dutta. During a dance sequence, she was pressurised to do an intimate scene with Patekar by choreographer Ganesh Acharya, which was not a part of the initial contract. When she complained, she was allegedly intimidated and was made to do vulgar steps. Dutta refused to comply and left the set as no one came to her support.
- In March, she filed a complaint with the Cine and Television Artistes Association (CINTAA) for the damage to her property and reputation. However, nothing happened and she was ousted from the film and was replaced with Rakhi Sawant, reports DNA.
- When the news of complaints against Patekar broke out, Dutta was mobbed by his supporters, many of whom were Maharashtra Navnirman Sena supporters. Her car was attacked and many even tried to break its windows. Luckily, she escaped unhurt. Surprisingly, many media organisations failed to report the allegations of harassment and the subsequent intimidation at that time.
- Ten years later, Dutta opened up to the media in September to narrate the sexual harassment that she had to face which left her traumatised for life. Dutta also talked about another incident, where film director Vivek Agnihotri asked her to remove clothes and dance on the sets of the 2005 film Chocolate.
- Her allegations were corroborated by two eyewitnesses — Janice Sequeira, who was then a reporter and Shyni Shetty, assistant director of the film Horn Ok Pleasss. Sequeira said she saw Dutta’s car being attacked by his supporters. The same was confirmed by Shetty who was present there to cover the film shooting.
- The revelations sparked an outrage across all platforms with many calling it the beginning of Bollywood’s own #MeToo movement. Some celebrities including Farhan Akhtar, Swara Bhaskar, Sonam Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap came out in the survivor’s support. Even Cine and TV Artistes Association wrote an apology to Dutta for its failure to address her grievance back then. It, however, expressed its helplessness in pursuing the case because it is more than three years old.
- However, many top celebrities stayed away from the controversy and chose to not comment on the matter.
- Meanwhile, Patekar first brushed off the allegations saying Dutta is like her daughter. He later went on to say that the accusations against him were untrue.
- After going public with her allegations, Dutta was slapped with two legal notices in October.”This is the price you pay for speaking out against harassment, humiliation and injustice in India. Both Nana’s and Vivek Agnihotri’s teams are on a smear campaign against me by constructing outright lies and misinformation on social media platforms and other public platforms,” she said, reports The Indian Express.
(With inputs from PTI, ANI)
