AICWA has condemned Tanushree Dutta’s “Evil Dead” remark after Nana Patekar’s death, calling her response insensitive and shameful.
The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has publicly condemned Tanushree Dutta over her reaction to Nana Patekar’s death, objecting in particular to her use of the phrase “Evil Dead” in a social media video. The film workers’ body described her words as “deeply objectionable, insensitive and shameful” and argued that she should have shown restraint while the industry was mourning the veteran actor.
Patekar died at his residence in Goa on October 8, 2026, at the age of 75 after suffering a cardiac arrest. Goa Police subsequently registered an Unnatural Death case under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita as part of the procedural investigation into his death.
AICWA tells Tanushree Dutta: ‘You should have kept a check on your tongue’
In its statement, AICWA said: “AICWA strongly condemns Tanushree Dutta’s ‘Evil Dead’ remark on the passing of legend Nana Patekar.” The organisation also highlighted Patekar’s Padma Shri honour, his charitable work through the Naam Foundation and his association with efforts supporting distressed farmers.
The association’s sharpest criticism was directed at the timing and language of Dutta’s reaction.
“To use such words for a person after his death goes against basic humanity. Until today, no one in our film industry has made such a statement after someone’s passing. You are the first, and we pray you will be the last. People in this industry know what to say on such an occasion and when to stay silent. You should have kept a check on your tongue,” AICWA said.
AICWA also criticised Dutta for discussing her own work schedule and a planned event in Lucknow in the same video. The organisation argued that talking about professional commitments while tributes to Patekar were pouring in made the post appear insensitive.
Dutta had said in her initial reaction that she had heard about Patekar’s death but was unsure how she wanted to respond. She offered condolences to his family before saying she would comment more fully after deciding what kind of reaction she wanted to give.
Why Tanushree Dutta’s reaction carries years of history
The controversy cannot be separated from Dutta and Patekar’s fraught history.
In 2018, Dutta publicly accused Patekar of sexually harassing her while they were working on the 2008 film Horn ‘OK’ Pleassss. Her allegations became one of the most prominent stories during the rise of India’s #MeToo movement. Patekar denied the allegations.
Mumbai Police later filed a closure report in the case in 2019 after saying there was insufficient evidence to proceed. Subsequent criminal proceedings were dismissed by a Mumbai court in 2025 on limitation grounds, according to reporting on the case. That legal history is important context: the allegations were publicly disputed and did not result in a criminal conviction against Patekar.
Dutta, however, has continued to stand by her account. Following Patekar’s death, she again spoke about the impact she says the episode had on her life and rejected the idea that a person’s death should automatically erase past accusations or experiences connected to them.
That distinction is what makes the latest controversy more complicated than a conventional celebrity backlash. AICWA is criticising the language and timing of Dutta’s response, while Dutta’s position is rooted in allegations she has consistently maintained for years. The association’s statement does not resolve that history; it instead turns the immediate debate toward what is considered appropriate public commentary after someone’s death.
For now, neither AICWA’s condemnation nor the online criticism appears to have changed Dutta’s position. Her subsequent comments indicate that she continues to stand by what she previously said about Patekar, ensuring that a controversy closely associated with India’s #MeToo era has resurfaced once again following his death.
