When Tanushree Dutta, a former actress and Miss India Universe 2004 winner, posted a trembling Instagram video on 23 July 2025, she wasn’t looking for clicks – she was begging for safety.

Recorded from her Mumbai flat, the 1‑minute‑29‑second clip shows Dutta on the brink of tears, shouting, "I'm sick and tired of this harassment!!" She mentions that the torment began in 2018, intensified with nightly banging noises since 2020, and that she has finally called the Mumbai Police for help.

Background: From pageant queen to #MeToo torchbearer

Born on 19 November 1983 in Jamshedpur, Dutta catapulted to fame after clinching the Miss India Universe 2004 crown. A year later she represented India at the Miss Universe pageant in Ecuador, finishing as the sixth runner‑up. A swift transition into Bollywood arrived with 2005's "Aashiq Banaya Aapne," where she starred opposite Emraan Hashmi.

Her career took a dramatic turn in 2018 when she publicly accused veteran actor Nana Patekar of sexual harassment on the set of the 2009 film "Horn 'Ok' Pleassss." The allegation ignited India’s wider #MeToo wave, though the police later dismissed the case for lack of evidence. Dutta has said the fallout left her living in a constant state of fear.

July 23 video: What Dutta revealed

In the viral recording, Dutta describes three distinct threats:

• Ongoing intimidation from unknown parties in her building, dating back to 2018.
• Loud, irregular banging noises outside her door and above her ceiling every night since 2020.
• Domestic staff allegedly planted by the same perpetrators, leading her to stop hiring maids altogether.

She admits to coping by looping Hindu mantras through headphones – a desperate attempt to drown out the "very, very loud" sounds that “break my heart.” The actress also said she plans to file a formal complaint at the police station "tomorrow or the day after," after the police asked her to come in for a proper statement.

Nature of the alleged harassment

According to a Madhyamam Online report dated 23 July 2025, Dutta said the disturbances include "odd‑hour" knocks that sometimes sound like someone trying to break into her ceiling. She worries the noises are a form of psychological intimidation, meant to keep her "on edge" and prevent her from pursuing any legal recourse.

She also claimed that previous attempts to involve the building management failed; the management allegedly ignored her complaints after a few years, prompting Dutta to "give up" and resort to the headphones. The actress emphasised that the fear is not just about property damage – she fears for her personal safety.

Reactions from police, industry and public

As of the evening of 23 July, the Mumbai Police had not released an official statement. Sources close to the case told NDTV that officers have logged her call and are waiting for her in‑person complaint, which could trigger a criminal investigation under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (harassment) and Section 506 (criminal intimidation).

Bollywood insiders expressed mixed feelings. A senior producer, who asked to remain anonymous, said, "Tanushree's courage is undeniable, but the industry has often turned a deaf ear. If the police act, it could set a precedent for other victims." Meanwhile, social media users flooded the comment sections with supportive hashtags like #StandWithTanushree and #EndHarassment.

Legal and societal implications

If Dutta's complaint proceeds, it could test the legal system's willingness to address “continuous harassment” that occurs within a private residence – a relatively uncharted territory in Indian jurisprudence. Experts from the National Law School of India point out that proving intent behind the noises will be challenging without concrete evidence, but the pattern of intimidation may qualify as a “stalking” offence under the 2019 Criminal Law (Amendment) Act.

Beyond the courtroom, the case reignites debate over the protection mechanisms for public figures who become whistleblowers. The Indian Women’s Forum recently urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to draft clearer guidelines for police response to harassment claims that involve mental health deterioration.

Key Facts

• Who: Tanushree Dutta, actress and former Miss India Universe.
• What: Alleged ongoing harassment at her Mumbai home, including nightly banging noises and suspected planted maids.
• When: Harassment reported since 2018; noise disturbances since 2020; video posted 23 July 2025.
• Where: Residence in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• Why it matters: Could set legal precedent for domestic harassment cases and test police responsiveness to high‑profile #MeToo claims.