Actor and filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar is still struggling to come to terms with the death of his close friend and fellow actor Nana Patekar. In a recent interview with News18 Marathi, Manjrekar recalled his friendship with the veteran actor, shared details he had learned about Nana's final hours and expressed regret over not being able to see him one last time.
The filmmaker also spoke about the long-running controversy involving Nana Patekar and actress Tanushree Dutta. Defending his friend, Manjrekar said that the controversy had caused Nana considerable suffering and maintained that the matter had been unnecessarily highlighted.
His emotional remarks have brought renewed attention to Nana's death, their decades-long friendship and the controversy that became one of the major talking points during India's #MeToo movement.
Mahesh Manjrekar Regrets Not Meeting Nana Patekar Before His Death
Speaking about Nana's sudden demise, Manjrekar revealed that he was in London due to work when the actor passed away on October 8, 2026. As a result, he could not attend to his friend during his final moments or see him for the last time.
Recalling their relationship, Manjrekar said that the two shared a close bond and often exchanged humorous insults and banter. He said that if Nana were still around, he would have scolded him for leaving so suddenly, especially when he was away.
Manjrekar also expressed disbelief over the actor's death, saying that he had never imagined Nana would leave them so unexpectedly. He recalled how they had shared conversations and discussed working together again after their successful collaboration on Natsamrat.
The filmmaker said that one of his biggest regrets was not being able to meet Nana before his death. He also shared that he had recently watched one of Nana's videos on Instagram and had thought about calling him, but decided to speak to him the following morning. Unfortunately, he received the news of Nana's death before that call could happen.
Manjrekar Reveals What Happened During Nana Patekar's Final Hours
During the interview, Manjrekar also shared what he had learned about the circumstances surrounding Nana's final hours.
According to his account, Nana reportedly began feeling uneasy at around 2:30 am. Instead of immediately going to a hospital, he informed his family about his discomfort.
Manjrekar said that Nana contacted his elder brother again at approximately 3:30 am and told him that he was still not feeling well. His brother subsequently reached the actor's residence and encouraged him to seek medical attention.
Manjrekar pointed out that a hospital was located only around four minutes from Nana's home in Goa. However, the actor reportedly believed that his discomfort might be caused by gas and was initially reluctant to visit a doctor.
According to Manjrekar, Nana suffered a massive cardiac attack while talking about the discomfort.
The filmmaker expressed anguish over the sequence of events and questioned why his friend had not gone to the hospital when he first started feeling unwell. He said that he continued to think about the possibility of medical attention being sought earlier.
Getting emotional, Manjrekar also expressed a deeply personal wish about meeting his friend again. He said that if life existed after death, Nana would be the first person he would want to meet after his own family.
Mahesh Manjrekar Revisits the Tanushree Dutta Controversy
Apart from recalling Nana's final hours, Manjrekar also spoke about the controversy involving Tanushree Dutta and Nana Patekar.
The controversy dates back to 2008, when Dutta was shooting for the film Horn 'Ok' Pleassss. In 2018, she publicly accused Nana of behaving inappropriately with her during the filming of a song. Her allegations became a major part of India's #MeToo conversation, prompting widespread debate about workplace conduct and harassment in the entertainment industry.
Nana Patekar denied the allegations.
In his recent interview, Manjrekar said that he knew several people who were present on the film set and claimed that they had told him nothing inappropriate had happened. He maintained that the controversy had been unnecessarily brought into the spotlight and said Nana had suffered considerably because of it.
Manjrekar added that social media had made it easier for people to form and express opinions, sometimes without knowing the complete circumstances.
His comments reflect his personal understanding of the incident and his support for his late friend. They should not be treated as an independent determination of what happened on the film set.
What Happened in the Nana Patekar-Tanushree Dutta Case?
The allegations became a major national issue in 2018, when Tanushree Dutta filed a police complaint against Nana Patekar and others in connection with the alleged 2008 incident.
In June 2019, Mumbai Police filed a closure report, stating that its investigation had not found sufficient evidence to support the allegations. Dutta challenged the police investigation and questioned the findings.
In March 2025, a Mumbai court refused to take cognisance of the 2008 allegations, citing the limitation period for filing the complaint. Importantly, the court clarified that because it had not examined the facts of the alleged 2008 incident, it could not declare the allegation either true or false.
Nana had consistently denied the allegations. The legal developments and the statements made by the people involved remain important context when revisiting the controversy.
Mahesh Manjrekar Remembers His Close Friendship With Nana
Manjrekar's latest interview is not just about the circumstances of Nana's death but also about the personal loss of a close friend. The filmmaker's inability to meet him one last time, particularly after thinking about calling him shortly before his death, remains a source of regret.
Their professional association included the acclaimed Marathi film Natsamrat, which featured Nana Patekar in one of his memorable performances. The two had also discussed working together again, but those plans remained unfinished.
Through his emotional recollections, Manjrekar has offered fans a glimpse into the friendship they shared away from the camera. His remarks have also brought the Tanushree Dutta controversy back into public discussion, although the claims made in the interview remain his personal account.
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