Parvathy Thiruvothu recalls a harrowing childhood harassment incident: ‘Our bodies are impacted by these experiences’

Parvathy Thiruvothu

Actor Parvathy Thiruvothu recently spoke with striking honesty about deeply unsettling experiences from her childhood, recalling moments of harassment that left a lasting impact on her sense of safety and understanding of the world. Appearing on an episode of The Male Feminist, the National Award-winning actor opened up about how early such encounters began and how they shaped her relationship with public spaces.

Parvathy Thiruvothu talks about the harrowing incident

Reflecting on her experiences, Parvathy said, "We are born, and then we are assaulted," setting the tone for a candid conversation about everyday harassment that often goes unnoticed or unaddressed. She went on to describe a particularly traumatic incident involving a stranger. "Pinch kar diya, auto mein ghus rahe ho. This kisi ne chest pe maar ke chala gaya, mama ko chhor ke waapas dad ke saath chal rahi. It was like thap, not even like touching," she recalled. "When I was younger, I remember experiencing discomfort."

The actor emphasised how such moments were not isolated but part of a broader pattern that many girls are conditioned to navigate from a young age. She spoke about the precautions her mother taught her while walking on the streets. "My mom used to teach me how to walk on the streets. Don't window shop. Look at men's hands. Imagine a situation when a mother has to teach this to her child," she said, highlighting the burden placed on young girls to protect themselves rather than on society to ensure safety.

Parvathy also addressed incidents of public indecent exposure, recalling how confusing and distressing they were at the time. "Also flashing! The number of times I have turned around and seen a guy with his mundu up… showing his thing. I had no idea what was happening at that time," she shared. "It is only much later when you go back and see that our bodies have been impacted by these experiences."

On the work front

Known for her powerful performances in films such as Take Off, Uyire, Qarib Qarib Single, Charlie, Maryan and Bangalore Days, Parvathy has consistently used her voice to address gender issues both on and off screen.

On the professional front, the actor will next be seen in The Storm, a high-stakes thriller drama set in Mumbai. The Prime Video series marks Hrithik Roshan's debut production under HRX Films and is created and directed by Ajitpal Singh, with writing by Ajitpal Singh, Francois Lunel and Swati Das. The show also features Alaya F, Srishti Shrivastava, Rrama Sharma and Saba Azad, and is expected to explore intense themes against an urban backdrop.