Akshay Kharodia, known for his impactful performances in shows like Suhaagan and Pandya Store, has been making waves with his versatile choices. Recently, he was seen in a music video Lagey Rabb Warga, sung by B Praak and featuring Isha Malviya. Akshay has now opened up about how portrayals of masculinity are changing in cinema, his personal choices as an actor, and the kind of roles he wants to bring to the screen.
Talking about the shift in how male characters are portrayed, Akshay reflects on the emotional depth men often hide. He says, “I have always felt that men are often perceived as macho, yet deep within they are very emotional, largely because of the nurturing bond they share with their mothers. Society has layered expectations on them, denying them the space to express their emotions openly, especially in front of other men. They are made to believe that showing vulnerability will be seen as weakness, and so they put on a façade of being strong and unaffected, pretending they do not care or feel pain. But the truth is, men do feel pain, they just choose not to express it.”
On whether he has refused roles that didn’t resonate with him, the actor admits he has walked away from many. He says, “Many times I have said no to a role because it felt outdated, toxic, or didn’t reflect the kind of man I want to be on screen. As an actor, I want to explore meaningful and fresh characters rather than fall into clichés that dominated the 80s and 90s. Even villains today can be portrayed in layered and nuanced ways just look at the performances of actors like Vikrant Massey or Rajkummar Rao, who bring versatility and depth to their roles. It’s not necessary to rely on stereotypes to play a compelling character, which is why I’ve turned down many roles that didn’t align with the story I want to tell or the persona I want to represent.”
On whether audiences are ready to embrace vulnerability in male characters, Akshay believes cinema naturally evolves with society. He says, “Bollywood, I believe, has always touched people’s emotions because films are essentially a mirror of our society. Everything you see on screen reflects what’s happening in real life. As society changes for instance, today men are more vocal about their feelings, showing sensitivity and vulnerability. You start seeing the same shifts portrayed in films. No matter how big or macho an actor appears, their characters often reveal a sensitive side that even their partners understand. Take Ranbir Kapoor, for example; while he has portrayed strong, macho roles, at the core, his characters and even he as a person show a tender, emotional side, reminding us that strength and sensitivity can coexist.”
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