Bade Achhe Lagte Hain actress Chahatt Khanna opens up about childhood molestation: He used to make me sit on his lap...

Chahatt Khanna talks about going through molestation in early years

Television actress Chahatt Khanna, widely recognised for her role as Ayesha Sharma in the hit TV series Bade Achhe Lagte Hain, recently shared a troubling childhood experience that she only fully understood later in life.

In a candid interview, Chahatt recalled an incident with an elderly man from her society, whom she now realises had molested her when she was young.

While talking to Hauterrly, she mentioned “This happened when I was very young," Chahatt said. “There was this uncle in my society—he was known to be a kind, sweet Bengali uncle. He used to make me sit on his lap and give me chocolates. I didn’t think much of it back then."

She mentioned, it was only two years ago that she started to truly understand the reality of what had happened saying, “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."

During the same conversation, the actress also spoke about the persistent issue of exploitation in the entertainment industry, particularly focusing on the troubling euphemism of "compromise" in film contracts— a term that often holds unsettling implications for aspiring female actors.

“When you’re a newcomer, people try to take advantage because they know you’re naive," Chahatt said. “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."

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She added, “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 industry's darker side, Chahatt has managed to build a successful career over the years. She made her television debut with Hero: Bhakti Hi Shakti Hai and went on to feature in popular shows such as Kumkum – Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan, Kaajjal, and Qubool Hai. Her breakthrough came with the role of Ayesha Sharma Kapoor in Bade Achhe Lagte Hain. Chahatt has also appeared in films like Thank You, 7½ Phere: More Than a Wedding, Prassthanam, and more recently, Yaatris in 2023.