Jahnavi Soni highlights how society often overlooks men’s mental health due to long-standing stereotypes about masculinity.
She emphasizes the importance of allowing men to express emotions freely and receiving the same support and understanding as anyone else.
Paro Sang Dev actor Jahnavi Soni feels that even though men are emotional, they often don’t show it. International Men’s Day, observed on November 19, aims to acknowledge men’s contributions, advocate for gender balance, and bring attention to important concerns surrounding their health and overall well-being.
Speaking on the occasion, she said, “I agree that men’s mental health is sometimes ignored because many of us believe that men are very strong. We think they are not emotional or that they don’t express their feelings easily. And even if they do feel something, they try to appear strong in front of everyone. But that is not true.”
“I feel this happens because of the way they have been brought up, and this mindset has been passed down from earlier times. That is why all of us started believing the same. But in today’s time, many things have become better,” she added.
She shared that people now express their feelings more freely, and there are many platforms where they can share what they feel. She said, “Even on social media, we hear men talking about how sensitive they are and how they too have feminine qualities, which is absolutely fine. It is not necessary that just because someone is a man, he cannot have such qualities.”
“Whether it is decorating the house or cooking, some men really enjoy these things. They are sensitive too. They also feel deeply, and if they want to cry, they can cry. There is nothing wrong with that. If someone has tears of happiness, it means they are expressing their joy. We see this, and it feels good,” she added.
Jahnavi feels that men today are more comfortable expressing vulnerability than before. Sharing her personal experience, she said, “It should be like this because I have a younger brother, and we are three sisters. The way we are raising him, he is becoming very sensitive about everything.”
“Whether it is respecting girls or understanding them in different situations, we never tell him, ‘You are a man, so you cannot cry.’ No, nothing like that. He has full freedom. He can express his emotions openly in front of us,” she said.
Asked about the kind of support system men need, she said, “I agree that they also need support. They are normal human beings. I don’t think we need to think differently about this. It’s a human thing. We cannot apply equality debates here because everyone feels the same emotions.”
She stressed that men also feel hurt and should be allowed to express their emotions. She said, “It is not always their fault. When we talk about family issues, both men and women overthink. Both feel things intensely, and we should understand the perspectives of both. Men have always been told they are ‘strong, strong, strong.’ But by saying this repeatedly, we should not raise boys or men in a way that leaves them hollow from within.”
“He should have decision-making ability and clarity. And if we talk about physical strength, God has already made men physically strong. But it does not mean that if someone doesn’t exercise, he is not strong. And if a girl exercises, she is also strong. So I feel the real meaning of being strong is to educate him well and raise him with good principles and values. Then, of course, he will be strong. And if a person is emotional or shows their emotions, it does not mean at all that they are not strong,” Jahnavi concluded.
