Survivor in 2017 actress sexual assault case on emotional impact of verdict: ‘I was just sitting at home, not ready to step out or face people’

She added, “Then, I took almost one and a half months sitting in my safety bubble. I slacked a lot, like I am just sitting at home, not ready to step out or face people.”

The actress further shared that she has a habit of pretending to be happier in front of other people. She said, “I have this bad habit of trying to be happy all the time. Maybe because I started all this from a very young age. Deep down, I know that I have to be pleasant and presentable in front of people. Even if I am going through a very tough phase in my life, when I come out to face camera and people, I’ll put an extra effort to be happy.”

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She continued, “Even if I don’t want to do it, it comes naturally, because I feel that everybody is looking at me, everybody is noticing so I have to have this happy face.

However, while stepping out for the interview, it was difficult for her to deal with her feelings. “I had put myself in a very comfortable position where I see only my family and close friends, that nobody would judge me. When I came today for the interview, I was okay in the car, but had a bit of anxiety while getting ready. When I reached here, the moment I got down from the car, I was having palpitations. I just went blank, didn’t know whether to smile or not. That is the nervousness and anxiety. I know that I cannot be in that position forever,” the survivor concluded.