'Took me 30 years to realise and come to terms': Actress Parvathy Thiruvothu recalls terrifying childhood incident of being 'harassed' by a stranger

Over the years, Malayalam actress Parvathy Thiruvothu has carved her own niche in the industry. Known for choosing strong, meaningful roles across genres, she has built a reputation for both her performances and her outspoken views on social issues. Recently, the actor opened up about a deeply disturbing experience from her childhood, recalling an incident of harassment by a stranger that stayed with her for decades.

Parvathy opens up horrific childhood incident

Parvathy shared her story during a conversation on The Male Feminist podcast, where she spoke candidly about the realities many women face from a very young age. Recalling one particular incident, she was being physically assaulted in a public place as a child. The actor described how an unknown man suddenly hit her on the chest and walked away, leaving her shocked and in pain. At the time, she was too young to fully understand what had happened, but the memory remained etched in her mind.



Speaking about growing up as a young girl, Parvathy stressed that such experiences were not rare or isolated. She explained that incidents like these were part of a larger pattern of everyday harassment that many women are forced to navigate. According to her, the impact of these moments often goes unnoticed in childhood but resurfaces much later in life.

The actor also spoke about the precautions her mother felt compelled to teach her early on. She shared that her mother would advise her on how to walk on the streets, stay alert, and avoid drawing attention to herself. Parvathy reflected on how troubling it is that children need to be taught such “rules” just to feel safe in public spaces.

Recalling other uncomfortable experiences, Parvathy spoke about witnessing indecent exposure by men in public areas during her childhood. She admitted that at the time, she did not understand what was happening or why it made her feel uneasy. It was only years later, she said, that she began to realise how these repeated encounters had affected her sense of safety and her relationship with her own body.

Parvathy emphasised that any physical contact without consent felt like a violation, especially when it came from someone outside her immediate family. She added that these experiences shape how women perceive touch, trust, and personal space as they grow older.

The actor also opened up about a separate incident from her teenage years, revealing that she was abused by someone she knew when she was 17. She explained that such behaviour is often normalised under the guise of affection or love, especially when young people are unaware of what consent truly means.

Reflecting on her journey, Parvathy said it took her nearly 30 years to fully recognise, process, and come to terms with what she had experienced.

Parvathy's work front

Parvathy is known for her performances in films such as Take Off, Uyire, Qarib Qarib Single, Charlie, Maryan and Bangalore Days.

She will next be seen in The Storm, the first production by Hrithik Roshan under his HRX Films banner, which will stream on Prime Video. Created and directed by Ajitpal Singh, the high-stakes thriller is set in Mumbai and also stars Alaya F, Srishti Shrivastava, Rrama Sharma and Saba Azad, with the story penned by Ajitpal Singh along with Francois Lunel and Swati Das.