'Lafangey' actors Harsh & Anud on whether men openly discuss mental health

In an exclusive conversation with Hook, ‘Lafangey’ actors Gagan Arora, Anud Singh Dhaka, and Harsh Beniwal opened up about mental health, highlighting how men often feel discouraged from expressing emotions like depression. They also shared how constant scrutiny and unsolicited opinions on social media influence their mental well-being and shape their public and personal lives.

Anud Singh Dhaka shares whether men are allowed to be depressed

Speaking about how men are not really allowed to ‘feel depressed’, Anud Singh told us, “Humein depression nahi hota (We don’t get depressed). Kyunki agar depression hota hai, toh phir belt nikalti hai (Because if we have depression, the belt comes out).”

Highlighting how men are often discouraged from openly discussing mental health, this goes to show how men are bound by societal expectations to appear strong, unaffected, and in control. This clearly reflects the deep-rooted stigma and fear surrounding men’s mental health, especially in traditional households. Things are even worse for male public figures, including actors, who are expected to maintain a flawless image.

Harsh Beniwal on experiencing mental health issues as a public figure

Actors, like anyone else, experience heartbreak, anxiety, stress, and emotional lows. Yet, the pressure to uphold a "tough" persona can prevent them from seeking help or speaking out. To add to that, social media deeply impacts mental health, particularly for public figures. The relentless scrutiny, pressure to maintain a perfect image, and the constant need to engage with fans can become overwhelming. While it offers visibility and connection, it often takes a toll on emotional well-being, blurring the line between personal and public life.

Harsh had an interesting anecdote to share on the same, “Jo social media hai, wahan pe bohot se log hote hain aise ki woh mazaak bana dete hain uss cheez ka (On social media, a lot of people make a mockery of the issue). Kai baar aisa hua hai jaise ki starting mein videos pe views na aana ya trending pe naa aana bohot affect karta tha (Many a time, in the beginning, the lack of views or my videos not trending, used to affect me a lot). Toh main bolta tha ki yaar ye trending nahi hai (So I used to say this isn’t trending). Toh log yeh DM karte the, ‘Bhai tera har baar ka hai, tu har baar rona chaalu kar deta hai.’ (So people used to DM me, ‘Buddy you do this all the time, you’re always cribbing.’) Toh main samajh gaya ki audience ko yeh bata ke kuch hona nahi hai mere case mein (So I understood there’s no point talking to my audience about this).”

Talking about how he is expected to entertain people, Harsh said, “Jaisi meri audience hai na, unko chahiye main sirf hasta rahoon, hasata rahoon (The way my audience is, they just want me to laugh and make them laugh). Bohot logon ki audience alag hogi, toh woh sunti hogi, samajhti hogi (Other people’s audiences might be different, and might listen or understand).”

Sharing his thoughts on those who share a lot of their personal problems online, he added, “Main rote-rote camera nahi utha sakta, ki main ro raha hoon aur camera on kar loon (I can’t pick up the camera while crying, like I’m crying and I switched on the camera). Woh I guess auron ke case mein work karta hoga (That, I guess, works in other people’s cases). Shayad mera andar ka zameer nahi allow karega ki main ro raha hoon aur main baat kar raha hoon (Perhaps my inner conscience won’t allow me to cry and then talk about it). Jo karta hai, main unko judge nahi karta (I don’t judge people who do it). Aur jo karta hai main unko judge nahi karta, more power to them.”

Also read: ‘Lafangey’ to ‘Mismatched’: Why Gen Z loves adulting stories

Even SRK talked about not being able to talk about depression

In 2010, Shah Rukh Khan spoke about how his shoulder injury affected his mental health. In a conversation with ANI, he said, “Due to the injury and the suffering, I had got into a depression mode but now I am out of it.”

Shah Rukh also shed light on how it’s difficult for him to share his true feelings despite his larger-than-life public image. “I am a different person in my films; I am very vocal and expressive in them, but in my personal life I am a very weird person. I face difficulty when I have to express my innermost feelings. I am very shy, quiet and reclusive as an individual. It is not something I am proud of but I lack in the art of expressing my love, my friendship, my anger, my apologies, which people misinterpret at times,” he said.

If even a superstar like Shah Rukh Khan struggles to express his emotions, what does that say about the condition other men are in? How can the non-famous average man be expected to navigate his feelings without judgement or support? Shouldn't we do better as a society and stop expecting men to always be stoic? Let's let boys cry for a change!