In a candid interview with Hauterrfly, television actor Gautami Kapoor revealed a traumatic experience from her childhood when she was molested on a public bus as a sixth grader. The actress shared the distressing details of the incident and how her mother's response helped shape her approach to personal safety.
Gautami Kapoor's Molestation Story
Kapoor explained that her family didn't own a vehicle during her childhood, which meant she regularly used public transportation from a young age. "I had been travelling in buses since I was in the fifth standard," she shared during the interview.
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Recounting the disturbing incident, Kapoor stated, "A man put his hand inside my pants from behind. I was very young, so it took me some time to even register what was happening. I was terrified and immediately got off the bus. It took me 15–20 minutes to fully understand the situation. I kept wondering if that man was following me."
The young Gautami found herself overwhelmed with fear and confusion. "When I met my mother, I was too scared to tell her. I thought she would scold me and say it was my fault," she revealed, highlighting the common but unfortunate reaction many children have when faced with such violations.
Gautami Kapoor on How Her Mother Responded
What stands out in Kapoor's recollection is her mother's empowering and supportive reaction when she finally gathered the courage to share what had happened. Kapoor, who mentioned she was wearing her school uniform when the incident occurred, recalled her mother's words:
"When I got home and told my mother, she said, 'Are you crazy? You should've turned around and slapped the man, or held him by his collar.' She told me never to be afraid. If anyone ever does something like that, hold their hand tightly, shout loudly, and never panic. If you feel scared, keep pepper spray with you and use it on their face, or just take off your shoe and hit them. Nothing will happen to you."
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Rather than blaming her daughter, Kapoor's mother provided practical advice on protecting herself and standing up against such harassment, a lesson that likely influenced Kapoor's confidence and resilience.
When asked about her views on Mumbai's safety as a city during the interview, Kapoor expressed her emotional connection to the city. She acknowledged her bias but maintained that she finds Mumbai quite safe, crediting the city with giving her everything.
Despite the traumatic experience she endured, Kapoor shared that she continued using public transportation throughout her college years, including both buses and trains, which she generally found to be safe environments.
Gautami Kapoor's Professional Journey
Gautami Kapoor began her acting career with television shows ‘Saturday Suspense’ and ‘Family No.1.’ She rose to prominence with her lead role in ‘Ghar Ek Mandir’ and became a household name through her performances in popular series like ‘Kehta Hai Dil’ and ‘Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi.’
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Her versatility extended to the big screen with appearances in films such as ‘Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya,’ ‘Fanaa,’ ‘Student of the Year,’ and ‘Shaadi Ke Side Effects.’ Most recently, Kapoor was featured in ‘Gyaarah Gyaarah,’ a fantasy thriller series directed by Umesh Bist, which adapts the popular Korean drama ‘Signal.’ The series, also starring Kritika Kamra, Raghav Juyal, Dhairya Karwa, and Aakash Dixit, is available on Zee5.
Whether she's at home or at work, a woman in India does not feel safe. When will this end? A woman's safety is no joke, it is her right. It is time to Fight Back against violenceand change the mindset of a society that allows this oppression. Read stories by women who faced harassment or abuse and chose to raise their voices, know what you need to do to fight back, and more on HerZindagi. Become a part of the solution. Take the pledge to #FightBack.
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