MUMBAI: Actor Sachin Kavetham is known for his work in films like Baala, Aap Jaisa Koi and Single Salma. He will be next seen in critically acclaimed film Full Plate. The young actor from Jaipur shares his views on men’s mental health. A general perception on men is that they often hide their feelings and don’t want to share. On this he says, ”Well, personally in my own case, I’ve always had someone who’s there for me whenever I need to talk to about anything. I genuinely feel fortunate for that. But I also know that not everyone has that kind of a person in their life - someone who listens without judgement. And that’s where it becomes difficult. I have observed a lot of men stay quiet because they feel they won’t be heard, or that opening up will be seen as weakness. That silence is exactly why men’s mental health ends up being overlooked.”
On asking if men today feel more comfortable expressing vulnerability than before or what still holds them back! Sachin says, ”My generation is definitely more comfortable expressing emotions, but the previous one still struggles. They’ve normalised this habit of saying, “It’s nothing big, I can handle it, no need to worry anyone.” Even my father doesn’t share certain things, not because he wants to hide them, but because his mind is just used to holding it inside. That mindset, that habit of downplaying everything, is what holds them back.
But you can’t blame any particular person for this. It’s the system we have built unknowingly over the decades. So I think it will take some time before it’s completely out.”
Sachin feels men should have a strong support system. He adds, ”I think every man needs support from people - closest to him—friends, family, partners, anyone who understands when he’s feeling low. When men go through a rough phase, when they want to cry or speak openly about what’s hurting them, they need people who actually listen instead of laughing it off. They need space, patience, and the assurance that it’s completely okay to let things out. But most men never seek this support because they’re scared of being seen as weak.”
We have often observed that equality conversations often focus on women’s rights, but how can we also include men’s emotional struggles in that dialogue?
Sachin shares, ”By listening to them. By not looking at them through labels like “alpha” or “mard,” but simply as human beings. Men also need space, a chance to speak, to feel heard, and to express what they’re carrying inside. And honestly, the initiative has to come from the people around them family, friends, or partners. When the environment becomes supportive, it becomes much easier for men to open up and be real about what they’re feeling.”
To Sachin the real strength is to ability to express true feelings without shame. He says, ”It’s protecting your family, standing by the people you love when things get difficult, and having the courage to say no to anything that doesn’t feel right.
Honestly, under the pressure hasn’t really hit me yet. There’s no real pressure right now, and that’s probably why my mental and emotional well-being stays steady.
The journey has just started, and it’s only going to get more exciting from here, so I’m always looking forward to what’s next. And if I ever get some spare time, trust me, I’m just going to sleep, because that’s the one thing I’m not getting enough of at the moment.“
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