Actor Daisy Irani sexually assaulted at 6 by her guardian, says 'he hit me with a belt'

New Delhi : A talk about sexual molestation is all over, be it in village, town, cities or the posh Bollywood circle. Veteran actor Daisy Irani, who is known for her comic role in movies have made a shocking leak about her childhood. The actor opened up about being sexually assaulted at the age of six while she was filming for Hum Panchhi Ek Dal Ke (1957).

Daisy Irani started her film career as a child artiste in films like Boot Polish, Jagte Raho Bandish, Dhool Ka Phool and Ek Hi Raasta and Naya Daur. She acted as a supporting actress in Kati Patang in 1971.

However, She stopped working in the films after her marriage in 1971. Later on in 1990’s she made a comeback as a TV actor in the comedy TV series Dekh Bhai Dekh and films such as Aastha (1997), Kya Kehna and Shararat (2002).[4]

She was seen in nephew Sajid Khan's 2010 Housefull and then, in her niece Farah Khan's acting debut film Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi (2012), directed by Bela Sehgal.

During an interview with Mumbai Mirror, the actress said, “The man who did this was supposed to be my guardian. He accompanied me to a film shoot (Hum Panchhi Ek Dal Ke) in Madras. One night in the hotel room he violated me, hit me with a belt and warned me that he would kill me if I ever told anyone about what had happened.” She disclosed about the horrifying incident almost after 60 years.

She added, “That man is dead and gone. His name was Nazar, he was related to the famous singer Zohrabai Ambalewaali. Obviously, he had contacts in the film industry. My mother was hell-bent on making me a star. I made my debut in the Marathi movie, Baby. So Uncle Nazar had accompanied me to the shoot of Hum Panchhi Ek Dal Ke in Madras. I can recall the incident only in flashes, but I do remember the killing pain, and the visual of him belting me. The next morning, I was back at the studio as if nothing had happened. For years, I couldn’t dare to tell my mother about what he had done.” 

When Daisy was asked about the impact the incident on her growing days, she recalled, “All I can say is as I grew up, I started flirting outrageously, I would tease and taunt men. I did not even understand what I was doing. I became badtameez (without manners). With time, my mother did get to know about the Madras incident but what could be done really?”

Remembering another incident of  her younger days, Daisy said, “When I was 15 or so, my mother made me wear a sari, padded me up with a new-fangled sponge, and left me alone with producer Mallikchand Kochar, who was planning a film called Mere Huzoor then, at his office located somewhere between Maratha Mandir cinema and the Tardeo circle. It was all quite hilarious… He joined me on the sofa, and started touching me… I knew what was on his mind. I took out the sponge things and handed them to him. He was furious. Now why did I do that? Because, I’ve always seen the funnier side of things.”

When asked if she was worried about everyone knowing her life story now, she told Mumbai Mirror, “My three children, my sisters…everyone knows what happened. The truth never killed anyone. If I’ve spoken up after years and years and if the result sounds sensational in print, no problem. There could be a flurry of ‘phone calls. I just won’t answer them. Simple.”