Adeel Hashmi opens up about childhood trauma
Actor shared he has been physical abuse victim
Actor Adeel Hashmi has spoken candidly about a difficult experience from his childhood, shedding light on an issue he believes parents need to address more openly with their children.
The actor shared that when he was in the seventh grade, he was sexually abused by boys in his class who were older than him.
He revealed that the abuse continued for several years and that, at the time, he did not have the courage to tell anyone about what was happening. Looking back, Adeel acknowledged that silence became a part of his experience simply because he did not know how or to whom to speak.
Reflecting on those years, Adeel said that while his father provided him with many things growing up, he was never taught how to talk about harassment or mistreatment. That absence of conversation, he noted, played a significant role in why he kept the experience to himself.
Becoming a parent has since reshaped how Adeel approaches the subject.
He shared that when his son started going to school, he made a conscious effort to open that line of communication early.
“When my son started going to school, I asked him if any child bullies him, any older child, so he said ‘no’, I said Whenever he does, tell me, see what I do!” The moment, he explained, was about making it clear that speaking up would always be welcomed.
Adeel emphasised that teaching children to talk is not only about responding after something happens. According to him, simply knowing that there is someone they can turn to makes a significant difference.
That awareness, he said, gives children confidence and reduces the sense of isolation that often accompanies such situations.
Speaking about his past now, Adeel said that when people ask him about his childhood, he feels thankful that those years are behind him. While the memories remain difficult, he views them as part of a chapter that has closed.