Write a short summary of what happens in the film.

Narrated by Lt. Col. M.K. Sinha himself, the Gillette Man Enough film follows the true story of how his life changed when a bullet tore through his jaw in the line of duty. It chronicles his physical and mental anguish in dealing with this crippling injury, showing us how regressive stereotypes of masculinity discouraged him from accepting his pain. However, this changed when his father, whom he considered the paragon of manliness, visited him in hospital. His father’s display of emotions inspired him to embrace his own, leading to him shedding tears for the first time in his adult life. This moment redefined his notions of manliness and taught him that expressing emotions doesn’t make one weaker – in fact it makes them stronger and more complete. Gillette championed his inspiring story, hoping to spark change in perceptions of manliness that the next generation of men would aspire to.

Cultural / Context information for the jury

One of the most iconic lines in Bollywood is ‘Mard ko dard nahi hota’ i.e. men feel no pain. This bares testament to how prevalent the regressive notion that ‘men don’t cry’ truly is. Introduced at a formative age and passed down generations, this pervasive stereotype is repeatedly reinforced by pop culture, role models and society overall. Exposure to these influences makes young boys believe that hiding pain and distancing emotions are defining features of being a man, causing severe repercussions in their mental makeup. Gillette wanted to tackle this notion of toxic masculinity, allowing young men to groom a healthier understanding of themselves, and inspiring them to realise that shedding tears makes them no less of a man, in fact, they should celebrate the fact that they’re man enough to do so.

Tell the jury about the casting process.

Tackling a male stereotype that’s endured generations meant changing a lot of things. Even the way we cast for Gillette, one of the world’s leading male brands. We found what we were looking for in Lt. Col. M.K. Sinha – a now retired soldier. The very definition of macho, the epitome of manliness but the antithesis of the regular, square faced, chiselled jawline male razor model. Rather than choose him for his face and features, we chose him for what that face represents. We chose him not for his uniform, but for the man behind, not for the scar, but for the extraordinary story behind it. A story that has the power to change the very notions of manliness that we’ve grown up with. Because while a model can impress, a role model can inspire. Which is exactly what the next generation of men need today.