Tanushree Dutta’s misconduct allegations addressed by Vivek Agnihotri years later. Director blames 'frustration'

Tanushree Dutta, known for her early 2000s roles in films like Aashiq Banaya Aapne and Dhol, brought attention back to her experience working on the 2005 film Chocolate: Deep Dark Secrets, directed by Vivek Agnihotri. In a past interview, Dutta claimed that the director treated her unprofessionally and created an uncomfortable environment on set. She recalled being publicly reprimanded for arriving five minutes late to a shoot, despite often reaching before the lighting setup was even complete. According to her, on that particular day, Agnihotri was present only to check whether she had arrived on time.

Beyond the issue of punctuality, Dutta described incidents involving costume discomfort. She alleged that she was forced to remain in revealing clothes on set even when she was not actively shooting, despite asking to wear a robe between takes. She stated that Agnihotri objected to her covering up, insisting she remain visible in costume in front of the entire crew.

Agnihotri Responds After Years of Silence

Director Vivek Agnihotri recently addressed the controversy in an interview on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast. Without naming Dutta directly, he appeared to respond to the allegations by pointing to the mental and emotional challenges faced by those in the entertainment industry. He stated that individuals who are not experiencing success often go through emotional distress and act out of frustration.


Agnihotri further said that he chooses not to engage in such matters and prefers to forgive and move on. He remarked that in the film industry, the pressure to remain relevant can lead to irrational behavior, and for that reason, he avoids getting drawn into public disputes. He emphasized that he does not take such statements seriously and believes in letting people express themselves as they wish.

Tanushree Yet to Respond

Tanushree Dutta has not responded to Agnihotri’s recent remarks. The actress has been away from mainstream films for several years but occasionally makes headlines for her candid interviews recalling past experiences in Bollywood.

Since Chocolate, both individuals have taken different directions in their careers. While Dutta stepped back from the limelight, Agnihotri gained recognition for directing films such as The Kashmir Files and The Vaccine War. His upcoming film, The Bengal Files, is scheduled to release in theatres on September 5, 2025. The film has already generated interest due to its politically charged themes, continuing Agnihotri’s trend of tackling controversial and historical topics.