"I was always very angry with him for drinking."
In a recent interview on Siddharth Kannan’s YouTube channel, Anita Hassanandani shared a personal account of her alcoholic father.
She talked about her upbringing and the challenges she faced after losing her father at a young age.
Speaking openly about her childhood, Anita revealed that her father’s struggles with alcoholism had a profound impact on her early years.
This led to a sense of anger and disconnection towards him during her youth.
Anita revealed: “He actually was an alcoholic. So, I had lost a bit of a connection with him.
“But with a father, it is always very special. I haven’t spoken about my father.
“I am sorry, and I don’t know how many years it has been. I miss my father.”
Anita expressed a newfound understanding of her father’s battle with addiction.
She acknowledged that over time, she realised that her father was grappling with his own demons.
“I was always very angry with him for drinking. I didn’t know why.
“Now I know it is an addiction, and he was also going through what he was going through.
“I would want to apologise for not understanding.
“Now that I understand he was also going through stuff, so I should have understood better.”
The emotional weight of her father’s absence, especially as she now navigates parenthood with her own son, Aarav, was noticeable in Anita’s words.
She regretted that her father could not witness this chapter of her life.
Anita said: “Now I have a child, so I feel, I wish he had met Aarav, it would have been so special.”
After her father’s passing, Anita found herself shouldering responsibilities at a young age, taking care of her mother and herself.
Struggling to make ends meet, she embarked on a journey of self-reliance, seeking employment at just 15 years old.
Anita shared an emotional account of her first job as a receptionist at Manoj Kumar’s son’s office.
She said: “First, I actually did a job. I was a receptionist at Manoj Kumar’s son, Kunal Goswamy’s office.
“In fact, it was his brother who told me, ‘Why don’t you get a photoshoot done?’ That’s how it all started.”
This opportunity not only provided her with a sense of purpose but also propelled her towards a career in acting.
Anita Hassanandani expressed gratitude for the support and guidance she received during those years.
“It’s been so many years, I have never met them ever since. Through this podcast, I can thank him for giving me some direction in life.
“I worked there for a couple of years, then photoshoots, auditions, look tests, and here I am.”
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