Marathi actress Girija Oak, who is known for her acclaimed performances in Taare Zameen Par, Shor in the City and Jawan, is once again in the spotlight. This time, it’s not for a project but for a look that has gone viral on social media. Fans are calling her the new ‘National Crush’, stunned by her simplicity, grace and natural charm. Amid this attention, Girija has also opened up about a troubling personal experience from her younger days.
‘A boy touched my back and vanished’
In a recent interview with The Lallantop, Girija spoke about unpleasant incidents she has faced over the years. One such moment involved a deeply uncomfortable encounter on a local train.“In local trains, people touching you and walking away, or bumping into you on purpose, has sadly become very common. You always have to be alert,” she said, recalling one such incident where a boy behaved inappropriately with her.Girija shared that she was travelling when the boy suddenly appeared from behind. “I don’t know where he came from because I didn’t sense anything. Maybe he approached from one side,” she said.Describing the moment, Girija said, “He ran his finger on my back — from my neck down to my buttocks — and then quickly turned around.” By the time she processed what had happened, the boy had already vanished. She couldn’t identify him, nor did she know anything about him.
‘My mother never tolerated bullying’
Girija also shared another memory from her school days — one where she ended up slapping a boy who used to bully her regularly. That experience, she said, shaped her early understanding of standing up for herself.She then spoke about how the women in her family, especially her mother, influenced her approach to courage and confrontation.
“I’ve been fortunate, truly. My grandmother, my mother — all the women I grew up with, the ones who raised me — everyone has always stood up to bullying. And not in a silent, quiet way, but very openly and strongly. I’ve actually seen my mother get into physical fights in my childhood.If someone pushed her deliberately, or brushed past her inappropriately — because these things happen, right? In crowded places, someone will bump into you, someone will touch you and walk away — it keeps happening.My mother would immediately turn around, grab the person by the collar, and absolutely pin them down. I’ve always seen that fierce side of her in public spaces — how alert she was, how conscious she remained. She was never someone who would just walk away swinging her bag like nothing happened.” Go to Source
