Malhar Patekar, son of late actor Nana Patekar, has spoken about coping with his father’s death, addressing speculation about his family dynamics and allegations made by actor Tanushree Dutta.
Patekar died in Goa on October 8 at the age of 75 following a cardiac arrest. Dutta, who had accused the actor of sexual harassment on a film set, had earlier described him as “evil dead”, drawing criticism on social media.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Malhar refrained from naming Tanushree and said the case had been closed long ago, adding that he could only wish everyone well.
“Without naming anyone, I want to say that the case people are bringing up unnecessarily is already over. Judiciary se clear hua hain, case khatam ho chuka; phir bhi bol rahe [the case is over; they still keep talking],” he said.
“Aise logo ko mein unko kuch nahi bolunga; joh sach hai wahi rahega, bhagwan unka bhala kare [I have nothing to say to such people. The truth will remain the truth. May God bless them], this is what I have to say to them.”
Dutta accused Patekar of sexual harassment on the sets of the 2009 film Horn Ok Pleassss. Her allegations came into the public domain in 2018 during the #MeToo movement. Patekar denied the allegations, and an FIR was registered against him.
In 2019, the police closed the case citing insufficient evidence. In 2025, a magistrate court in Mumbai’s Andheri dismissed the criminal proceedings against Patekar on the ground that the complaint had been filed beyond the legally prescribed limitation period.
Malhar also addressed speculation surrounding his parents, Nana Patekar and Neelakanti Patekar, amid reports that the couple had separated and that their relationship had led to tensions within the family.
Dismissing the claims, he said he had grown up in a loving household and credited both his parents with giving him a happy childhood.
“Itna sab kuch viral ho raha, woh kitna galat hai [All this that's going viral is wrong]. Just because we don’t share family pics on Insta, that doesn’t mean we don’t bond. Even after parting ways, my parents were on a good note; 38-39 saal ka bond tha [they had a 38-39-year bond], and things are never what they might look like...,” he said.
Speaking about rumours surrounding his father’s health and claims that he had been alone during his final days, Malhar said, “The things I read usska jawab yeh hain ke woh akele nahi thhe, kabhi nahin thhe [I want to address those rumours and tell everyone that he was not alone in his final days, he was never alone], nor was he unwell because we all never left his side; one of us was always with him.”
“He was very active and doing two and a half hours of working out in a gym; youngsters nahin kar pate [even youngsters can't do it], that was his level of fitness,” he added.