Tanushree Dutta has once again revisited her unpleasant experiences with director
Vivek Agnihotri in her 2005 released film Chocolate and actor
Nana Patekar while shooting an item song in his 2009 film Horn Ok Pleassss during her recent interview.
Recalling the controversy from the sets of Chocolate, Tanushree said she had once seen a video interview where it was mentioned that she had refused to perform a particular scene.
Clarifying her stand, she told Pinkvilla, “I never objected to the scene. The costume had some exposure, and I had to dance underwater. My issue was with the way the director spoke to me. The manner in which he told me what to do was extremely inappropriate. I told him this is not how you speak to a Miss India or to any professional. That is why I raised my voice.”
She added that she never named the director at the time, yet “he is still giving interviews and saying whatever he wants.”
Tanushree explained that she was new to films then and came from a Miss India background, where she had always spoken respectfully even to people junior to her.
“On my first film set, I couldn’t understand why a director—who wasn’t even that big back then—was talking so disrespectfully and saying things like ‘kapde utaar ke naach (remove your clothes and dance).’ The same thing could have been said politely. I was stunned, and even other people on set were offended. There were big names in that film, like Suniel Shetty. Everyone was shocked.”
According to her, she only ever clashed with people whose behaviour towards women was problematic.
“These men don’t know how to behave with women. I have never had an issue with anyone who has a good reputation. I like people who are professional, cut-to-cut, apne kaam se kaam. Ladki dekhi nahi ke phael gaye, ladki dekhi nahi ke ego shuru ho gaya, ladki dekhi nahi ke apne aap ko jyada hero dikhane ki koshish kar rahe ho, usko khich taan rahe ho. And not everybody likes physical proximity. I'm not saying I'm a saint. I will have physical proximity with someone I choose. You are an actor, you are acting with me, and we didn't even have any scene like that. Jiska dimaag kharab hota hai, uska dimaag waise hi kharab nikalta hai.”
Speaking about Nana Patekar, she referred to an old interview she had seen of Dimple Kapadia, where the latter called him an obnoxious person.
“Even Dimple Kapadia had spoken about him. Bollywood is a place where people become popular for no reason. In 2008, he didn’t even have films, while I was at my peak. My songs were hits, I was constantly in the news.”
Tanushree claimed she was repeatedly requested to do the film in question, “The film wasn’t selling for two years. They literally folded their hands and asked me to do an item song so that the film could sell. I had that kind of pull back then—if I did an item number or a guest appearance, the movie would sell.”
She alleged that after agreeing to help, she was instead mistreated, “The same people who begged me to come dragged me into a mess. They pulled me into a ditch after I helped them. Then they accused me of doing a publicity stunt. I was already very popular. I used to be in the news every day. Why would I need publicity from an out-of-work, ageing actor?”
She said the manipulation began on set, “They troubled me deliberately for attention, using reverse psychology. They wanted to break me down so they could look powerful. Itne chaalaak aur shaateer dimaag hote hain buddhe buddhe saare, Bollywood ke, kyunki yeh toh 20-20 saal se game khel raha hai (These older men are extremely cunning—they’ve been playing this game for 20 years). I was innocent then; I had no idea people could be this manipulative.”
She continued, "Tum socho, tumhare jaise buddhe, out-of-work, kuroop insaan ke saath mujhe ladne ki zarurat hai, public ke liye, jo itni popular hoon hoon. Miss India, Miss Universe, Miss India Universe... Aashiq Banaya Aapne tab bhi release hui thi meri. Mujhe aur publicity ki zarurat hai?"
“2008 ka jo zamana tha, directors usse kaam karne se darte the. Toh aapki woh haalat thi. Aur main aapke saath thodi si theek karoongi? Kyunki Shah Rukh Khan nahi hai kya? Amitabh Bachchan nahi hai? Yeh bade-bade actors hain jinki clean image hai. Unke saath karungi na main controversy? Aur bhi toh kitne bade-bade actors hain jo kaam kar rahe hain,” she said.
She further added, "As for Nana Patekar—he wasn’t even getting work properly in 2008. His film was shelved for two years. The producers had to beg me—literally with tears in their eyes—saying, ‘If this film doesn’t release, we will be ruined. Please do an item song so the film can sell.’ I came into the film out of that request. But the moment I started shooting, everything changed. They flipped the script on me.”
She described feeling trapped, “Once I started working on the film, the whole tone changed. I felt like a chicken trapped in a net. When I tried to walk away, they even brought goons and damaged my car. I didn’t deserve any of that.”
Tanushree said she was not internet-savvy at the time and didn’t know how to check anyone’s reputation or past controversies.
“I was new, and I didn’t know people could operate at this level of manipulation. I was forced into that situation and did the best I could. They created controversies in my name on purpose.”
Get an chance to win ₹5000 Amazon Voucher by taking part in India's Biggest Habit Index! Take the survey here