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This International Men’s Day, we spoke with Abhishek Sharrma, who plays Devansh in Vasudha. The actor shares his thoughts on what the day signifies and reflects on the importance of men embracing their emotions in today’s changing world.
This year, International Men’s Day is about celebrating men and boys. What does this day mean to you personally, both as an actor and as a man?
International Men’s Day is a reminder that strength isn’t just about being tough; it’s also about being kind, responsible, and emotionally aware. As an actor, I’m constantly exploring different shades of masculinity through my characters, and I feel a responsibility to show that men can be compassionate, flawed, expressive, emotionally available, and still strong.
As a man, it’s a day to pause and appreciate the boys and men in our lives who show up every day – fathers, brothers, friends, colleagues. It’s about celebrating their presence while also acknowledging the pressures they carry silently.
Devansh supports his wife Vasudha and accepts her despite their different social backgrounds. How important do you think it is to portray men who stand by their partners with love and respect?
It’s extremely important. When we portray men who uplift their partners, it helps normalize healthy relationships for millions of people watching. I feel this shouldn’t be treated like something extraordinary; it should be the norm. Mutual respect, mutual understanding, and mutual upliftment should be the foundation.
With Devansh and Vasudha, they come from different worlds, yet their bond is rooted in trust and respect. That’s the kind of masculinity I believe in – one where a man’s strength is shown through understanding, empathy, and standing shoulder to shoulder with the people he loves.
On-screen representation shapes real-life behaviour. And if even a few men watching think, “I want to treat my partner like that,” then the story has done its job.
Many men feel pressure to hide their emotions to appear “strong.” How can we encourage men to be open, vulnerable, and in touch with their feelings?
This is something we’ve all experienced; being told not to cry, not to be emotional. It’s not always taught directly, but society often signals that if someone is crying, they should “stay strong.” But the truth is, one should be emotionally available, expressive, and honest about what they feel. Men are often taught to swallow their emotions because vulnerability is seen as weakness, when in reality, vulnerability is courage.
We can encourage men by having more open conversations at home, with friends, colleagues, and partners. And by watching cinema and television where men are allowed to cry, doubt themselves, fall in love, and celebrate emotional expression instead of being judged for it.
It’s about creating safe spaces where men and boys are told it’s okay to feel, and they don’t need to “man up.” The moment we stop equating silence with strength, men will naturally become more expressive and emotionally available.
On this International Men’s Day, what message would you like to share with your fans about valuing men and boys in their lives?
See the men in your life beyond their responsibilities; notice their struggles, appreciate their efforts, and encourage them to talk about what they’re going through. We need to move past the mindset of “he’s a man, he’ll manage.” We should stop thinking that way and look deeper.
To all the boys growing up, I want you to know that you don’t need to be perfect to be “man enough.” Be kind, be honest, be truthful, be respectful, and take care of your mental health. That’s real strength and it includes being expressive. We should feel free to open up to our parents, especially our fathers, because many of us never built that kind of relationship.
We must be able to express our feelings in front of the people we trust – the ones who uplift us, not the ones who take advantage, or make fun of our emotions. And to everyone out there: let’s build a world where men are allowed to feel, to falter, to love openly, and to grow freely.
