MUMBAI: Renowned Indian singer Sona Mohapatra has strongly criticized those targeting actress Tanushree Dutta following the death of veteran Bollywood actor Nana Patekar, calling the demand to silence a survivor of sexual harassment “hypocrisy.”
Taking to social media platforms X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, Mohapatra posted a video expressing firm support for Dutta. She noted that while mourning an artist’s death is understandable, targeting Dutta for speaking out is deeply regrettable.
Mohapatra wrote that the right to respect after death should also extend to the living. Mourning an actor’s passing is one thing, she argued, but demanding that a woman who spoke about her trauma remain silent is entirely another. She raised a critical question: Does death erase the unpleasant aspects of someone’s life, and does aging or passing away place someone above criticism?
Highlighting Dutta’s ongoing struggles, Mohapatra stated that after raising allegations of sexual harassment against Patekar, Dutta faced a long battle, public ridicule, and professional isolation. She called it unfair to expect Dutta to forget her personal experience and mourn according to public expectations.
Addressing criticism directed at Dutta by other women on social media, Mohapatra questioned whether humiliating another woman constitutes a valid form of social discourse.
While acknowledging that an artist’s work can be appreciated, his death mourned, and condolences extended to his family, Mohapatra stressed that this does not require any woman to alter her lived experiences or historical account. She also responded to critics who argued that Patekar’s charitable contributions—such as donating a large portion of his income to help farmers and the poor—should exempt him from criticism.
Drawing a parallel to British personality Jimmy Savile, Mohapatra argued that a person’s charitable work should be viewed separately from allegations of misconduct leveled against them. She added that while Patekar was often praised for his candidness and outspoken nature, women displaying similar traits are frequently labeled as rude or ill-mannered.
Concluding her remarks, Mohapatra asserted that Tanushree Dutta has every right to speak her truth, and if empathy requires silencing or humiliating a survivor who raised her voice, then it is not empathy at all—it is pure hypocrisy.
Also Read: Nana Patekar’s Death: Why Did Goa Police Register a Case?
Nana Patekar passed away on October 8 at the age of 75 following a heart attack in Goa. Following his death, Dutta faced backlash over her remarks, in which she referred to him as an “evil dead” and questioned why she should forgive someone who never offered an apology or acknowledged his wrongdoing.
Tanushree Dutta had first accused Nana Patekar of sexual harassment on the sets of the 2008 film Horn ‘Ok’ Pleassss, allegations which Patekar strictly denied. The case was closed by the police in 2019 due to lack of evidence, and subsequently dismissed by a Mumbai court in 2025 upon the expiration of the legal statute of limitations.
