Kalki Koechlin: I was abused when I was just 9

Slated to hit theaters on April 17th, Margarita With A Straw has been garnering quite a lot of attention and praise for its unique plot and brave subject matter.

Kalki revealed she had sex when she was just a meager nine years old and didn’t understand the gravity of the situation. The actress also went on to state the importance of parents discussing such sensitive subjects with their children, instead of treating it as a taboo subject.

“The reason I spoke out about my sexual abuse is not to get people to feel sorry for me but to give others who have had similar circumstances the confidence to talk about it. I allowed someone to have sex with me at the age of nine, not understanding fully what it meant and my biggest fear after was that my mother would find out. I felt it was my mistake and so I kept it hidden for years. If I had had the confidence or awareness to confide in my parents it would have saved me years of complexes about my own sexuality. It’s important that parents remove the taboo around the word sex or private parts so kids can speak openly and be saved from potential abuse.”

 

Kalki Koechlin stars in the upcoming movie and plays a rebellious young girl named Laila with cerebral palsy. From a sheltered life in India, she eventually crosses continents and moves to New York where she falls in love with a woman. Her new lifestyle and sexual discovery hinders her relationship with family and friends, who are relatively conservative. The film also depicts the transition of a young, under-confident girl becoming independent and discovering life on her own.

 

It is a noble and brave gesture by the Bollywood actress to come out in the open with such a response, However, let’s hope this wasn’t a publicity stunt for Margarita With A Straw but an honest attempt to benefit others who have suffered the same abuse.