Anjali Anand, the actress known for her role in ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’, has shared a deeply personal and unsettling childhood experience. In an interview with Hauterrfly, she revealed how a dance teacher, when she was just eight years old, exerted control over her life.
Anjali Anand on her traumatic childhood
Anjali recalled that it was her dance teacher who attempted to make her feel like part of his ‘family.’ When asked if he isolated her to do so, Anjali confirmed and further stated that he tried to take advantage in every way possible. She said, “I didn’t know what to do. I was eight, just after my dad passed. He told me, ‘I am your dad,’ and I believed him because I didn’t know any better. Then he started very slowly—he gave me a peck on my lips and said, ‘It is what dads do.’”
She also said that it went on for several years and added, “He wouldn’t let me keep my hair open. He wouldn’t let me wear girls’ clothes; he made me wear his old T-shirts so that I didn’t look appealing to others. When my sister got married and my dad’s best friend’s son came to the wedding, he had a crush on me and started talking to me. That’s when I thought, ‘This feels normal.’ I just felt stuck. He used to keep tabs on my itemised billing—he knew what messages I was sending. He caught me talking to this guy. He used to wait outside my school to pick me up. And everybody was like, ‘Why is he always there?’ But nobody even tried to see why.”
Anjali recalled that this disturbing experience lasted from the age of eight until she was 14. She expressed her gratitude to her first boyfriend, acknowledging that he was the one who helped her break free and escape what she described as a nightmare.
About Anjali Anand
Anjali Anand was recently seen in the web series ‘Dabba Cartel’, which garnered acclaim from both critics and viewers. The series, which features Shabana Azmi, Shalini Pandey, and Jyotika in prominent roles, is available for streaming on Netflix. Looking ahead, Anjali will star in Faraz Arif Ansari’s upcoming film ‘Bun Tikki’, alongside an impressive cast that includes Abhay Deol, Shabana Azmi, Zeenat Aman, and Nushrratt Bharuccha.
