Healing Takes A Long Time: Actor Recalls Facing Sexual Abuse At 7

Actor Maninee De recently shared her experience of childhood sexual abuse during a conversation with journalist Siddharth Kannan. She described this period as a deeply devastating time in her life and revealed that she informed her parents about it many years later.

"A Dark Phase"

Maninee disclosed, "I went through abuse as a kid. It was a bit of a dark phase in my life. I was battling my demons." She also mentioned that she shared this information with her parents much later, saying, "I disclosed it later, many years afterward."

When asked how she dealt with this experience, Maninee expressed, "It was very difficult; I won't deny that. I've undergone a lot of healing processes. However, healing such wounds takes a long time. That's why I became a therapist—to prevent such incidents from happening to others and to be there for healing if they do."

Maninee De shared how she coped with the situation, explaining, "I think I kind of transmuted, if I may say so in English. I started writing by reading books. I used to write poems. I used to play. I used to have conversations with myself. I think that was my process of evolution. It was difficult, but I matured before my time." She also revealed that the person who assaulted her was a close relative and had apologised to her five to six years ago. Maninee is recognised for her roles in films like Fashion, Krrish, and Student of the Year.

Child sexual abuse remains a significant and distressing issue in India. As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data from 2020, nearly 28.9% of all children in the country have encountered some form of sexual crime, with a substantial portion going unreported (65.6%). Besides Maninee De, several Bollywood stars, including Deepika Padukone, Kangana Ranaut, and Akshay Kumar, have openly discussed being molested during their childhood.

Celebrities Who Shared Being Sexually Abused As Children

Neena Gupta revealed in her autobiography, Sach Kahun Toh, that she was afraid to inform her mother about being assaulted as a child by a doctor and a tailor. Akshay Kumar had previously shared a personal story about being groped inappropriately. "The lift man touched my butt when I was six years old, as I was walking to a neighbour's house. I was a shy child, therefore I was happy that I could talk to my parents about it. However, I still have trouble pronouncing the term "bum."

Sonam Kapoor, Anil Kapoor's daughter, experienced sexual abuse when she was thirteen years old. The actor once shared that she and her companions had gone to the Gaiety Galaxy Theatre in Mumbai to attend a movie when the horrifying occurrence happened. "A man just came up behind me and gripped my breasts in that manner. I didn't know what was going on, so I started crying right there as I began to tremble and shake," she recalled. Similarly, on her show Lock Upp, Kangana Ranaut talked about how she was groped inappropriately as a young child. "I've dealt with this. When I was younger, a little boy from our town used to touch me improperly."

Kalki Koechlin once shared that at the age of nine, she "allowed someone to have sex" with her and she experienced a traumatic incident without fully understanding its implications. Her biggest fear was that her mother would discover what happened, leading her to believe it was her fault, which caused her to keep it hidden for years.

In 1992, India committed to protecting its children from all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse by ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Shockingly, statistics indicate that one in every two children in India has experienced sexual abuse before reaching the age of 18, often perpetrated by family members or individuals known to them.

The impact of child sexual abuse can be profound and enduring, affecting survivors physically, emotionally, psychologically, and socially well into adulthood. If you or someone you know has experienced child sexual abuse, reaching out to professionals such as therapists, counsellors, or support groups can help address the trauma and its impact on adulthood. If you are a survivor and wish to share your story, we are here to help you share your experience with the world. Additionally, if you are seeking guidance on reporting abuse, you can check this out.