Nora Fatehi opens up about developing a masculine trait: ‘I have unleashed that part of me that can give manly vibes sometimes'

Indian Express

2 days ago

In an interesting conversation with podcaster Ranveer Allahabadia, Nora Fatehi opened up about her childhood spent in survival mode and how that brought forth her masculine trait. She, however, believes that the right man, who knows how to care, provide, and always support, would naturally make her feel safe and relaxed.
'I have a masculine trait about me for sure, because of how I have had to be in survival mode since day 1. I have kind of unleashed that part of me that is dominant and taking control and can give manly vibes sometimes,' said the Housefull 5 actor. However, she said that she needs to do that to be able to be good. 'I have to take care of people. I am the breadwinner of my family, and I take care of my friends,' was her logic.
'With the right man, who knows how to take care of me, who is a provider, a supporter, and a protector, I will automatically surrender and feel safe. Because obviously, the space I am in, I don't feel safe. So I have to create this kind of energy to be safe,' she further explained.
According to consulting psychologist and relationship expert Priya Parulekar, Nora's quote shows a classic pattern: When someone is in survival mode—financially, emotionally, or socially—they develop a hyper-masculine side themselves. Traits like independence, assertiveness, and self-reliance dominate because survival requires action and control.
Parulekar added that feminine energy is more about openness, receptivity, emotional expression, intuition, and the ability to surrender or relax around someone safe. Masculine energy, on the other hand, is more about protection, decisiveness, structure, problem-solving, and providing safety (physically, emotionally, or materially).
'Someone in survival mode often develops more masculine traits, which can make connecting with a healthy masculine partner tricky because they unconsciously 'test' whether a man is safe enough to drop the armor,' she said, adding that surrendering is not weakness — it's trusting someone enough to drop your defensive mechanisms.
'When Nora says, 'With the right man, I will surrender and feel safe,' she's aware that her energy will soften around someone reliable. This is a conscious choice, not default behavior,' Parulekar explained, adding that the right man doesn't just provide materially or protect physically; he signals emotional and energetic safety that allows her to shift from survival mode to feminine presence.
Identifying Safe Masculine Men –
Parulekar suggests looking for consistency, protective capability, and emotional maturity in a man. Here are the traits broken down:
a) Protector in Action– should be able to handle crises without panic; acts rather than overreacts. Physically or materially capable (even if of modest means) of creating boundaries that prevent harm.
b) Emotional Safety – Listens without judgment, allows vulnerability without exploiting it. Maintains composure even if you express anger, fear, or frustration. And keeps promises and demonstrates integrity.
c) Decisiveness and Direction – Knows what he wants and can make decisions confidently. Doesn't require constant validation or approval, so he's 'anchored' rather than reactive. Provides structure, not control; guides without dominance.
d) Boundaries and Respect – Doesn't get triggered by your independence or past trauma. Can say 'no' without fear of conflict and respects your 'no' as well. Recognizes the difference between control and protection.
e) Energy and Presence – Has consistent energy that doesn't fluctuate wildly with stress. When he's present, you instinctively feel calmer.
For someone like Nora (or anyone in survival mode), masculine energy is attractive because it creates space where feminine energy can emerge without fear. 'If the man is inconsistent, controlling, or emotionally unstable, it reinforces survival instincts rather than allowing surrender,' concluded Parulaker.
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