MUMBAI: Sheena Bajaj, last seen in the popular show Vanshaj, is currently embracing motherhood and reflecting deeply on topics often left undiscussed — including men’s mental health. The actress opens up about the emotional burdens men silently carry, and why society needs to do better.
“Absolutely, it’s an underrated and underserved area,” Sheena says. “We often talk about gender equality and emotional well-being, but somehow men are left out of that conversation. There’s this unspoken pressure on men to ‘man up,’ to not cry, to always be strong — and that’s so unfair. Emotional health is not a gendered issue; it’s a human one.”
She points out how this silence is culturally conditioned from a young age. “From a young age, boys are told not to cry, not to show ‘weakness.’ Over time, they suppress so much that expressing becomes foreign to them,” she explains. “It’s not that men don’t want to express — they just haven’t been given the space or permission to do so. That silence becomes their coping mechanism, but it's harmful in the long run.”
Offering a woman’s perspective, Sheena believes that understanding and empathy are key. “Many of us women are more emotionally attuned because we’ve been allowed to feel and express openly. But we also sometimes expect men to process emotions the way we do — and when they don’t, we misunderstand them. We need to be more compassionate and patient. It’s a learning curve on both sides.”
So, what’s the way forward? For Sheena, the answer lies in awareness, safe spaces, and role models. “We need to create safe spaces — in homes, friendships, workplaces — where men feel heard without being mocked or dismissed. Representation also matters. We need more public figures, actors, and influencers talking about their emotional battles openly. That normalises vulnerability.”
As someone who has played strong characters on screen and now prepares for a new chapter off-screen, Sheena leaves with a powerful reminder: “As women, we have a role too — to listen, to support, and to remind the men in our lives that being emotionally honest is a sign of strength, not weakness.”
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