Rajniesh Duggall opens up about the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and the deep-rooted conditioning that teaches boys to hide their emotions.
He urges society to normalise vulnerability, offer support, and recognise that men deserve the same emotional care as everyone else.
Actor Rajniesh Duggall, known for his emotionally intense roles across films and OTT projects, says the conversations around mental health still leave a major gap, especially when it comes to men. For him, the issue is deeply personal and deeply universal. He believes that long before a man becomes an adult juggling pressures, society conditions boys to hide their fears, silence their emotions, and “be strong,” no matter the cost.
He says, “I strongly feel that men’s mental health is overlooked, many times without even realizing it. From childhood, boys are told to stay strong, not cry, and handle everything on their own. Because of this conditioning, many men grow up thinking that sharing their struggles or fears is a sign of weakness.”
“Even today, people focus more on a man’s responsibilities than his emotional state. A man may be stressed, lonely, hurt, or confused, but he rarely gets asked if he is okay. Men carry a lot of pressure, work pressure, family expectations, and financial responsibilities, but their emotional needs are often ignored. I believe it’s time we openly talk about men’s mental health and give them the same understanding and care that every human deserves,” he adds.
Rajniesh feels that men today are becoming more comfortable expressing vulnerability than before. He says, “Things are changing. Today’s generation is more open, and many men are slowly learning to share their feelings. Social media, awareness campaigns, and better conversations around mental health have helped a lot. However, real change will take time, and there’s still much work to be done.”
According to him, the greatest barrier continues to be fear, fear of judgment, of being misunderstood, of being perceived as ‘weak.’ “Many men worry that if they show vulnerability, the world will not treat them the same. There is also pressure to always ‘be in control’,” he explains.
Rajniesh stressed that men need friends, family, and professional support just as much as anyone else, but they rarely take that step. He says, “Most men want someone who listens without judging them. They need friends with whom they can talk honestly, family members who understand their emotional side, and professionals who can guide them when things feel too heavy.”
“But many men never reach out because they are not used to sharing. They feel they must solve everything alone. If men learn to lean on others, just a little, life can become much lighter and healthier,”Realises.
In closing, Rajniesh urges society to normalise emotional conversations for men, reminding that mental strength does not come from silence, but from being heard.
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