Chahatt Khanna opens up about being molested by neighbour during childhood; says, “He would make me sit on his lap and offer me chocolates”

TV actress Chahatt Khanna, widely recognized for playing Ayesha Sharma in the hit show Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, recently shared a disturbing memory from her childhood—something she only understood clearly much later. In a heartfelt conversation with Hauterrfly, Chahatt recounted an incident with an older man from her neighbourhood, which she now recognizes as an instance of molestation.

Chahatt said, “This happened when I was quite young. There was an uncle in my neighbourhood—everyone knew him as a kind and gentle Bengali man. He would make me sit on his lap and offer me chocolates. At the time, I didn’t really think anything of it.”

It was only two years ago that Chahatt began to truly understand what had happened. “I met my childhood friend, and she told me about how she had filed a molestation case against the same uncle. That’s when it hit me—he used to do the same things to me. She was a little older, so she understood it back then. I didn’t.”

In the same interview, the actress also spoke about the persistent problem of exploitation within the entertainment industry, particularly highlighting the troubling use of the term “compromise” in film contracts—a word that often masks unsettling expectations placed on aspiring female actors.

Chahatt revealed, “When you’re a newcomer, people try to take advantage because they know you’re naive. “They’d say things like ‘Madam, compromise’—and you’d be left figuring out what that even means. It’s prevalent in both the South and Bollywood industries. The only difference is, in the South, they are more direct about it.”

She also revealed the disturbing truth about contracts that blatantly included exploitative clauses. She said, “I’ve seen contracts where it was written clearly—you have to compromise with the hero, the director, the producer… basically everyone except the spot boy. I’ve heard these stories, seen them unfold. Thankfully, no one ever crossed that line with me personally.”

Despite the darker side of the industry, Chahatt has managed to carve out a successful career over the years. She began her television journey with Hero: Bhakti Hi Shakti Hai and went on to appear in popular shows like Kumkum – Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan, Kaajjal and Qubool Hai. Her big breakthrough came with the role of Ayesha Sharma Kapoor in Bade Achhe Lagte Hain.

On the film front, she has featured in titles like Thank You, 7½ Phere: More Than a Wedding, Prassthanam, and more recently, Yaatris in 2023.

Also Read : Chahatt Khanna to play lead in the web series, Pati, Patni Aur Kand

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