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Tanushree Dutta, the actor who became one of the most prominent voices in Bollywood’s #MeToo movement in 2018, shared a deeply emotional video on Instagram on Tuesday. In the video, she is seen crying uncontrollably and pleading for help, claiming she has been subjected to persistent harassment at her own home for the past 4 to 5 years. She also revealed that she had called the police out of distress.
In the video, Tanushree says, “Guys, I’m being harassed in my own home. I just called the cops. I got worried and called the police. The police came. They asked me to come to the police station to launch a proper complaint. I’m probably going tomorrow or the day after. I’m not well. I’ve been harassed so much in the last 4-5 years that my health has deteriorated.”
She further revealed her inability to function normally in her daily life, stating that she couldn’t even hire domestic help due to past bad experiences. “My house is a mess. I can’t hire even maids because they planted maids in my house. I had such a bad experience with maids coming in and stealing and doing all kinds of things. I have to do all my work. People come outside my door… I’m being troubled in my own house,” she said. Toward the end of the video, she pleads, “Please, someone help me.”
In the caption accompanying the post, Tanushree wrote, “I’m sick and tired of this harassment!! It’s been going on since 2018 #metoo. Aaj fed up hokar maine police ko call kiya. Please someone help me! Do something before it’s too late.”
She further detailed her ordeal in her Instagram Stories, describing incessant loud noises and disturbances. She wrote, “Loud noises like this and other very very loud banging noises at all odd hours for the last couple of years!! I got tired of complaining to the building management and gave up. Today this was going on all day, I was so unwell and couldn’t even rest. Then some random people came to my door and started ringing bell despite giving instruction of Do Not Disturb!!”
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Tanushree Dutta played a pivotal role in triggering the #MeToo movement in Bollywood in 2018 when she accused veteran actor Nana Patekar of sexually harassing her during the shoot of a special song in the 2009 film Horn ‘Ok’ Pleassss. She had originally made these allegations in 2008 by filing a complaint with the Cine and TV Artistes Association (CINTAA), but no substantial action was taken at the time, as the case was deemed criminal in nature.
Later, on October 13, 2018, her lawyer Nitin Satpute submitted an application to the Oshiwara police station in Mumbai requesting that Nana Patekar, choreographer Ganesh Acharya, producer Samee Siddiqui, and director Rakesh Sarang undergo narco-analysis, brain mapping, and lie detector tests.
However, in June 2019, the police cleared Nana Patekar of all charges, stating in their B-summary report that the allegations made by Tanushree could be “malicious” and “filed out of revenge.” Tanushree’s sister, actor Ishita Dutta, had spoken about the emotional toll the controversy took on her sibling. In a 2019 interview with national media, Ishita said, “I don’t know about the case, but I know about that day. Had they (police) not reached at that minute, things would have got worse.”
She was referring to a widely circulated video from 2008 where a mob surrounded and attacked Tanushree’s car. “Had it not been for the cops, probably the car’s windshield would have been broken,” Ishita had added. Tanushree Dutta is best known for her performances in films like Aashiq Banaya Aapne, Dhol, and Bhagam Bhag. She was crowned Femina Miss India Universe in 2004, after which she transitioned into Bollywood. Her latest allegations have once again raised concerns about the safety, mental well-being, and support systems available to whistleblowers in the entertainment industry.
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