Saba Azad: 'Alpha male' is a patriarchy-created term, I don't subscribe to it
Synopsis
Saba Azad isn’t just rejecting a buzzword — she’s challenging the entire framework behind it. Calling ‘alpha male’ a term invented by patriarchy to sustain itself, the actress offers a sharp counter to one of social media’s fastest-growing masculinity narratives, even as she gears up to return in Who’s Your Gynac? Season 2.
Key Takeaways
Saba Azad called the ‘alpha male’ concept a term ‘created by patriarchy to keep patriarchal ideas alive.’ She said she does not subscribe to the idea and struggles to understand what ‘alpha’ is supposed to mean.
Saba is set to reprise her role as Dr.
Vidhushi Kothari in Who’s Your Gynac?
She emphasised that writers carry the greatest responsibility when a show becomes successful, as they must maintain story consistency.
Saba stressed that actors must preserve the same ‘quirks, flaws, and honesty’ audiences connected with in the first season.
Actress Saba Azad has said she finds the concept of the ‘alpha male’ fundamentally difficult to comprehend, describing it as a construct designed to perpetuate patriarchal thinking. The Songs of Paradise star made the remarks during a recent interview, speaking candidly about masculinity, vulnerability, and societal expectations.
On the ‘Alpha Male’ Debate
“I honestly do not understand the concept of alpha male. I think it is a term created by patriarchy to keep patriarchal ideas alive. I do not subscribe to it at all,” Saba said. She added that despite being surrounded by “many wonderful men” in her family and among her friends, she still cannot grasp what ‘alpha’ is “supposed to mean.”
The remarks come as the ‘alpha male’ discourse has surged across Indian social media, fuelled by influencer content that frames dominance and emotional stoicism as ideals of manhood. Critics argue such framing actively discourages men from expressing vulnerability.
Vulnerability and Masculinity
Saba was asked directly whether vulnerability continues to be seen as ‘less masculine’ in contemporary society. While she did not offer a binary answer, her rejection of the alpha male label signals a broader scepticism toward rigid gender norms. Notably, conversations around male mental health and emotional expression have gained traction in India in recent years, making her comments particularly timely.
Returning for Season 2 of ‘Who’s Your Gynac?’
On the professional front, Saba Azad is set to reprise her role as Dr. Vidhushi Kothari in the second season of the web series Who’s Your Gynac?. The show’s first season built a loyal audience, and Saba acknowledged that success brings heightened expectations from viewers.
“When a show becomes successful, and audiences connect deeply with it, expectations naturally grow. People want to experience the same joy and emotional connection again, perhaps even more strongly,” she said.
On the Responsibility of a Successful Show
Saba was also asked whether an actor’s responsibility grows as a show gains popularity. She was quick to distribute that responsibility across the entire creative team. “I think everyone carries equal responsibility because what we do is only one small part of a much larger project. The writers, especially, carry a huge responsibility because they have to move the story forward while maintaining consistency,” she explained.
She added that for actors specifically, the task lies in “maintaining consistency and bringing out the same quirks, flaws, and honesty in the characters that audiences loved in the first season.” With Who’s Your Gynac? Season 2 on the horizon, audiences will be watching closely to see if that consistency holds.
Point of View
Not routine. What’s worth watching is whether Bollywood, which has long commercially traded on hyper-masculine hero archetypes, is genuinely rethinking those templates or merely issuing interview-friendly statements. Saba’s own filmography and the premise of Who’s Your Gynac? suggest the former, but the industry’s box-office choices will be the real test. Mainstream coverage will likely reduce this to a celebrity quote; the more interesting story is the widening gap between what Indian audiences say they want and what they actually watch.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Saba Azad say about the ‘alpha male’ concept?
Saba Azad said she does not understand the concept of the ‘alpha male’ and described it as a term created by patriarchy to keep patriarchal ideas alive. She added that she does not subscribe to it at all.
What is Who’s Your Gynac? and what is Saba’s role in it?
Who’s Your Gynac? is a web series in which Saba Azad plays Dr. Vidhushi Kothari. She is set to reprise the role in the show’s second season, which is currently in the works.
What did Saba Azad say about an actor’s responsibility when a show becomes successful?
Saba said responsibility is shared equally across the entire team, with writers bearing particular weight as they must advance the story while maintaining consistency. For actors, she said the task is to preserve the same character traits audiences fell in love with in the first season.
Why are Saba Azad’s comments on masculinity significant?
Her remarks directly challenge a fast-growing social media trend that valorises ‘alpha male’ behaviour. Coming from a public figure with an engaged audience, they contribute to a broader cultural conversation about male vulnerability and gender norms in India.
