Ishaan Khatter says 'Men are not taught to be men, just taught not to be women’

Ishaan Khatter talks about demaile gaze in the industry

In an industry often obsessed with hypermasculine heroes, actor Ishaan Khatter has carved a niche for himself by bringing sensitivity and nuance to his roles.

Unlike many of his contemporaries, Ishaan Khatter doesn’t shy away from exploring the emotional depths of his characters, showing that strength can coexist with vulnerability.

Recently, he opened up about how his career has been shaped by female filmmakers and how their perspectives have influenced his understanding of masculinity.

During an appearance on the Yuvaa All Stars Roundtable 2025, Ishaan Khatter spoke candidly about what being a man means to him.

He shared, “Men are not taught to be men; they’re just taught not to be women. A lot of my understanding of what it means to be a man is in correlation with the relationship between men and women. Masculinity, to me, has been defined by the fact that I have been raised by a single mother.”

Growing up as the child of actors Rajesh Khattar and Neelima Azim, who separated when he was just six, he says those early experiences shaped not only his outlook on gender, but also his approach to life and work.

Since his debut in 2017, Ishaan Khatter has worked with a number of acclaimed directors, including Mira Nair, Nupur Asthana, and Priyanka Ghose.

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Reflecting on how collaborating with female storytellers has influenced him, he said, “Because I have been subject to the female gaze and I have been privy to it, main usko kuch hadd tak samajh paaya hoon (I have understood it to some extent). Eight years of my career so far, I think I have worked with 50% female makers. Ek alag nazariya samajh paana bahut badi taaqat hoti hai (To understand a different perspective is a great strength), and that is what cinema is for. That is what we all do. The job is empathy.”

This year, Ishaan Khatter was seen in Neeraj Ghaywan’s acclaimed film Homebound, which has been chosen as India’s official entry to the Oscars.

He also starred in the Netflix series The Royals, showcasing his versatility across mediums.