At a time when the hypermasculine portrayal of Indian film heroes has often been debated, Ishaan Khatter has emerged as one of the few actors of his generation who has consistently portrayed leading men with emotional depth and sensitivity. In a recent interaction, the actor spoke about how being raised by a single mother and working closely with female filmmakers shaped his understanding of masculinity and the female gaze.
Ishaan Khatter on masculinity and being a man
Appearing at the Yuvaa All Stars Roundtable 2025, Ishaan spoke about how his ideas of masculinity developed over time. He explained that traditional notions of masculinity were often formed in contrast to femininity, rather than through a deeper understanding of emotional balance and empathy.
“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,” he said.
Ishaan is the son of actors Rajesh Khattar and Neelima Azeem, who separated when he was just six years old. He acknowledged that growing up in a single-parent household had a lasting impact on his worldview and personal values.
Understanding the female gaze through women filmmakers
Since beginning his acting career in 2017, Ishaan has worked with several prominent female filmmakers, including Mira Nair, Nupur Asthana, and Priyanka Ghose. Reflecting on these collaborations, he said that being directed by women helped him better understand the female gaze and its importance in storytelling.
“Because I have been subject to the female gaze and I have been privy to it, main usko kuch hadd tak samaj 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 samaj 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,” he added.
Ishaan Khatter’s recent work
On the work front, Ishaan was last seen in Neeraj Ghaywan’s critically acclaimed film Homebound, which is selected as India’s official entry to the Oscars this year. He also played a leading role in the Netflix series The Royals, which released earlier this year.
Through his career choices and reflections, Ishaan Khatter continues to contribute to evolving conversations around masculinity, empathy, and representation in contemporary Indian cinema.
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