Ishaan Khatter: Single Mother Shaped My Masculinity, Not Being 'Not A Woman'

• Ishaan Khatter discussed how his understanding of masculinity was shaped by being raised by a single mother, Neelima Azim.
• He stated society teaches men "not to be women" rather than what it means to be a man.
• Working with 50% female filmmakers like Mira Nair, Nupur Asthana, and Priyanka Ghose exposed him to the "female gaze," enhancing empathy.
• Shared these insights at the Yuvaa All Stars Roundtable 2025.
• Ishaan was last seen in Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound, India’s official Oscar entry, and Netflix series The Royals.

Why It Matters: Ishaan Khatter credits his single mother and female directors for his unique perspective on masculinity and empathy.