Kanika Mann Recalls Abusive First Relationship, Says Ex-Boyfriend's Slap Left Her Ears Bleeding

Mumbai- Television actress Kanika Mann has opened up about a traumatic chapter of her college life, revealing that her first boyfriend was physically and emotionally abusive and that one of his assaults left her ears bleeding.

The actress shared her disturbing experience during a conversation with fellow contestants on the reality show Bigg Boss. Recalling her early college days, Kanika said she had never been in a relationship until Class 12. However, moving to Chandigarh for her first year of college gave her a sense of newfound freedom and made her curious about relationships.

She explained that her decision to enter her first relationship was largely influenced by the fear of missing out rather than any particular emotional need.

"I didn't have a boyfriend till 12th. I went to Chandigarh in my first year. I thought it was freedom," she recalled.

Kanika said she eventually created a Facebook account, and the first boy who showed her some attention became her boyfriend. However, what began as her first romantic relationship soon turned into a deeply distressing experience.

Describing him as abusive, the actress recalled an incident in which he unexpectedly entered her classroom and slapped her in front of others because she was wearing a striped suit.

The assault was particularly painful because she had recently got her ears pierced, and her ears began bleeding after the slap. She also revealed that despite the incident taking place in a public corridor, nobody came forward to help her.

The actress recalled several other instances of controlling and intimidating behaviour. Her former boyfriend allegedly snatched her mobile phone and threw it into a crowd. On another occasion, he threw away the keys to her hostel room, attempting to control her movements.

Kanika also described how he used emotional blackmail to pressure her into doing what he wanted, threatening to contact her father and reveal their relationship.

"He would say, 'Now come with me. Otherwise, I will call your father and tell him that I am your boyfriend'," she recalled.

She said he eventually attempted to contact her father, but the call went unanswered. Looking back at that moment, Kanika felt that an earlier intervention from her family might have helped her escape the abusive relationship sooner.

The actress said she gradually became more aware of her rights and began finding the courage to stand up for herself. She also mentioned that studying law for around eight to nine months helped her develop a better understanding of legal matters.

Recalling what she described as the final and most frightening confrontation, Kanika said her former boyfriend followed her from the hostel to her college department. As she entered the building, he grabbed her hand and pulled her. She recalled that he was wearing a hoodie and carrying a knife.

According to the actress, he took out the knife and cut the veins in his own hand three to four times. His aggressive behaviour left her terrified, as she feared that he could also attack and kill her.

Fortunately, she spotted an acquaintance named Arjun passing by and immediately asked him to call the police. He contacted the authorities, and officers arrived at the university within minutes.

Kanika said she noticed a change in her former boyfriend's behaviour for the first time when he appeared frightened by the arrival of the police.

She subsequently narrated the entire incident to the officers, following which her former boyfriend was taken into custody. According to her account, he remained in jail for two to three days.

However, Kanika said the harassment continued even after his arrest. Members of his family and relatives allegedly contacted her and threatened her rather than requesting her to reconsider the matter.

She admitted that the threats left her frightened, particularly because she was worried about the possible consequences and how her own family would react if they learnt about everything.

The actress, however, expressed gratitude for the support she eventually received from her family, saying their backing helped her through the difficult period.

Kanika Mann is best known for her performances in television shows such as 'Guddan Tumse Na Ho Payega' and 'Chand Jalne Laga'. Besides television, she has also worked in Punjabi films and music videos.

Her account on Bigg Boss has brought attention to the experiences of people trapped in abusive relationships, particularly the fear, emotional manipulation and social pressure that can make it difficult for victims to seek help.

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