Mumbai: Actor and former Miss India Universe Tanushree Dutta has firmly denied claims that her recent emotional video was staged for attention, stating in an exclusive interaction with ANI, "There are many ways to go viral. I don't need to do all this. I am Tanushree Dutta. Miss India Universe."

The viral video, which shows Tanushree visibly distressed and sobbing, was posted on her social media on Tuesday. In it, she claims she is being harassed in her own home and has contacted the police for help.

"I called the cops, and they’ve asked me to come to the police station to file a formal complaint. I might go tomorrow or the day after. I’m not well. I’ve been harassed so much over the past five years that I’ve fallen sick," she said in the video.

Responding to the wave of speculation and criticism online, the actor told ANI the video was a genuine outburst after enduring years of stress, fear, and mental trauma since she first came forward with sexual harassment allegations during India’s #MeToo movement in 2018.

“People always say such things. They said I was acting in 2008, they said the same in 2018. And who are these people anyway?” she remarked, addressing her critics.

Tanushree recounted several disturbing incidents she claims have happened since she spoke out: a car accident involving brake failure, alleged tampering with her food and suspicious activity outside her residence. “It took me time to understand that all of this was actually happening to me,” she said.

When asked whether anyone from the film industry had come forward to support her, she said, "I don't have any friends. And when all of this started happening to me, the few contacts I had also disappeared."

Tanushree became a national figure in 2004 after winning the Femina Miss India Universe crown. She went on to appear in successful Bollywood films like Aashiq Banaya Aapne, Bhagam Bhag and Dhol, before stepping away from the limelight. Her 2018 allegations against veteran actor Nana Patekar marked a watershed moment in India’s MeToo reckoning.

Now, nearly seven years later, she says the harassment has not stopped.

ANI inputs