Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt Recounts Childhood Assault: "They Tried to Determine If I Was 'One of Them'"

In a recent interview, acclaimed Bollywood filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt opened up about a harrowing incident from his childhood that left a lasting impact. According to Bhatt, when he was a young boy in Mumbai, he was accosted by four older boys who grabbed him forcefully and shoved him against a wall.

The attackers proceeded to question Bhatt's family background, referring to his mother as a "mistress" and demanding to know if he was "one of them." Bhatt desperately pleaded with the boys to let him go, but he found himself trapped between them, with no passersby willing to intervene and come to his aid.

Bhatt recounted the traumatic experience, saying, "I panicked, and from deep within, a desperate cry rose, pleading with the Gods to save me. But the Gods remained indifferent." The boys even threatened to pull down his pants, further terrifying the young Bhatt, who eventually managed to convince them that his father lived with the family, though he later admitted that this was not entirely true.

Ultimately, the boys relented and let Bhatt go, but the incident left a profound impact on the filmmaker, who has now chosen to share his story in the hopes of raising awareness about the importance of standing up against such acts of harassment and violence, even in the face of indifference from bystanders.