Viraj Ghelani Recalls Shadowing Little Things Star Dhruv Sehgal, Ankush Bahuguna Opens On Alpha Male Struggle

Actor Viraj Ghelani and content creator Ankush Bahuguna highlight the power of embracing vulnerability in the latest of India's first masculine positivity show, 'Be A Man, Yaar!’ They demonstrate how openly expressing emotions can be a source of genuine strength.

Viraj attributes his understanding and respect for women to the strong female figures in his life. Raised by a single mother, he was motivated to work hard and stay authentic to ensure no one couldise his mother. He said, "Mujhe aisa tha ki kal uthke meri mummy ko koi aake aisa na bolke jaye ki iska toh husband nahi hain na toh ladka bigad gaya, so till today you will never see me drinking aur na maine koi aur tedhi cheeze kari hain."

Ankush shares how his mother, an accomplished Garhwali actress for over three decades, inspired his passion for acting and creativity from an early age. He mentioned, "Meri mummy 30 saal se acting kar rahi hain, she wanted to get into mainstream, bollywood but it's not an easy thing especially when you come from the regional cinema space, but she has hustled, she still goes for auditions..."

Influence of Sisters

Both men also credit their sisters for shaping their perspectives on treating women with respect. Viraj recalls how his sisters taught him to behave respectfully towards women. He said, "growing up meri behno ne bas ek cheez sikhaayi hain, do not misbehave with any of the girls in your life because jo tu baaki ladkiyo ke saath karega, teri behen ke saath bhi koi kar sakta hain!"

Ankush offers a different perspective on his sisters' influence. He shares how they showed him that women can be both powerful and strong. He recalled an incident where his sisters defended themselves and him against bullies. "I remember ek baar ek ladke ne meri behen ko chedha tha and phir dono beheno ne jaake unko peeta tha."

Father-Son Dynamics

Reflecting on his relationship with his father, Ankush felt he was letting him down by not being the "alpha male." He said, "Growing up as a son to a father who was an alpha male I constantly felt like I am disappointing him... After I made something of my life, I think that's when he eventually accepted me."

Viraj shared a different experience with his friend Dhruv Jurel from 'Little Things.’ He spent nearly three months mimicking Dhruv to be liked by everyone until Dhruv helped him accept his flaws. Viraj added, "Dhruv told me to accept my flaws... Tab se maine Gujarati mein videos banana chalu kiya."

Throughout the episode, Viraj and Ankush discuss various topics including their female friendships and family backgrounds. They explore how these experiences have shaped their content and authenticity.

The episode underscores that embracing one's softer side is not a weakness but rather a strength that can lead to personal growth and deeper connections with others.