Exclusive - Anupamaa actor Shivam Khajuria on the new track about male domestic abuse: When I first heard, I felt it was a very bold and important subject to explore

Television shows have often showcased sequences around women's domestic abuse and harassment, but anything that revolved around abuse against men has rarely been shown. This is one of the rising problems of our society that is unheard and unsaid and often goes unnoticed. The makers have taken the initiative to bring this thought-provoking issue to the limelight through Anupamaa. Actor Shivam Khajuria, who plays the role of Prem in the show, has applauded the makers for starting the conversation around male abuse. He said, "When I first heard about the track, I felt it was a very bold and important subject to explore. Male domestic abuse isn’t spoken about openly in our society, so the fact that the show chose to highlight it felt meaningful. As part of the show, I appreciated that we were addressing something that many people might be silently dealing with." "Even though I wasn’t directly embodying that character in this track, just being around the storyline and watching it unfold made me reflect on how emotional pain in men is often overlooked. It reminded me that men also go through vulnerability and trauma, but many don’t feel safe enough to talk about it," he added. He believes that society puts too much pressure on men to hide their feelings and said, "From a young age, boys are conditioned to believe that showing emotion is a weakness. That mindset can make it difficult for men to open up later in life."Shivam stated that issues like abuse against men is still seen as a taboo in society because it goes against traditional ideas of masculinity.He said, "People are used to seeing men as protectors. So when they are shown as vulnerable or facing abuse, it makes many uncomfortable.. But uncomfortable conversations are often the ones we most need to have." He further shared that men are slowly becoming more open about their emotions. He said, "There is definitely progress and the younger generation are more aware about mental health. But there’s still a long way to go. Real change will happen when men feel they won’t be judged or mocked for expressing their feelings." Shivam enjoys working with the team exploring new dimensions of the story, and pushing himself as an actor. "Every day on set brings something new, and that’s what keeps it exciting. Overall, the audience's response has been very positive. Viewers appreciate when the show takes up socially relevant topics along with entertainment. It feels good to be part of a project that is not just dramatic but also thought-provoking," he ended.