"I Was 9": Harshad Chopda Opens Up About Childhood Sexual Abuse

"I Was 9": Harshad Chopda Opens Up About Childhood Sexual Abuse BY-VERSHA

[{"selector":"#anim-5db3c54a-36b8-406a-81d7-a21955a0a7d7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-21.874999829338588%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] BY-VERSHA Actor Harshad Chopda shared a deeply harrowing childhood secret during a recent emotional episode of the reality show Lock Upp.

[{"selector":"#anim-52b89582-5a00-4d05-aeff-b472d1b17508 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.499999772451451%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] BY-VERSHA Harshad revealed that he was sexually abused at the age of 9 or 10 by a trusted acquaintance with whom his parents had left him.

[{"selector":"#anim-a6c9aa33-2c94-4357-9b18-452192191960 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-21.874999829338588%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] BY-VERSHA Recalling the incident, the actor shared how he was completely terrified and pretended to be asleep while the culprit abused him.

[{"selector":"#anim-6d7cc92b-1c95-409b-8a84-603b3d142291 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-21.874999829338588%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] BY-VERSHA Harshad disclosed that the same perpetrator inappropriately touched him a second time under the guise of picking him up.

[{"selector":"#anim-5914f5e8-334a-4a62-a950-b1d8adf987f4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-21.490384442389384%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] BY-VERSHA The actor admitted that the tragic incident left him with deep fear, admitting he feels apprehensive around gay men due to the lingering trauma.

[{"selector":"#anim-72ab0253-8d7a-4beb-ac1a-78b1ab1e8230 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-14.831730555831074%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] BY-VERSHA Harshad expressed pain that his abuser was never exposed or punished and continues to live comfortably without remorse.

[{"selector":"#anim-303af00b-a38d-45d7-9360-b45252811b35 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-14.829545241132502%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] BY-VERSHA He appealed to parents never to leave children alone with others and urged them to maintain open communication with their kids.

[{"selector":"#anim-fb962a58-a06c-459a-86fd-e644fc0b7877 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-40.44637555852808%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] BY-VERSHA His brave disclosure left fellow contestants like Ram Kapoor and Shivangi Joshi in tears, who also urged parents to protect their children