The actress claims the body cremated wasn’t Nana Patekar’s and alleges he faked his death to evade investigation.
Tanushree Dutta has reignited a firestorm by publicly questioning the death of veteran actor Nana Patekar just days after it was reported. During an Instagram Live session on October 14, she cast doubt on the official narrative, suggesting the body cremated on October 8 at his Pune farmhouse was not Patekar’s.
She pointed to the absence of public photos or videos of the body, the late-night timing of the last rites, and the lack of a widely reported prayer meeting as red flags. Her most startling claim? That Patekar may still be alive, living under the radar in Singapore or Malaysia.
Dutta called for a DNA test to verify the identity of the deceased and urged authorities in several countries to issue lookout notices. The demand came without any supporting evidence — no forensic data, no surveillance footage, no credible witness testimony. Yet the sheer audacity of the allegation has rattled social media.
Patekar, 75, was reportedly taken ill due to a cardiac arrest. Multiple outlets confirmed his death with statements from family members and officials. His last rites were performed with state honours, a detail Dutta questioned but which remains unchallenged by any official source.
This isn’t the first time Dutta has drawn attention to Patekar. Back in 2008, she accused him of misconduct on the set of Horn 'Ok' Pleassss. The case resurfaced during India’s #MeToo movement in 2018. Mumbai Police closed the file in 2019, citing insufficient evidence. No charges were filed.
That history now hangs over her latest claims. While she’s entitled to express suspicion, the burden of proof lies with her. No independent verification exists. No autopsy report has been released. No government agency has flagged Patekar as missing or wanted.
And yet, the internet is already divided. Some see her as a whistleblower exposing a cover-up. Others dismiss her as using old grudges to fuel conspiracy theories. Manisha Koirala paid tribute to Patekar, calling him a legend. Others noted he spoke about mortality just four days before his reported death, adding a layer of irony to the speculation.
For now, the official record stands: Nana Patekar died on October 8. His family, friends, and institutions have acknowledged it. But one woman’s livestream has thrown a shadow over that certainty. And left the public wondering: what if?
The next move rests with the authorities. If they choose to act, it will be on the basis of evidence, not allegations. Until then, this remains a story of suspicion, not fact.
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