Former Machachari star, Ian Nene, known by his stage name Almasi, recently delved into the challenges of his tumultuous upbringing in a recent interview on the Man Talk Podcast.
Reflecting on his troubled childhood, Almasi shed light on the difficulties he faced in a toxic household after his biological father left, leaving him with a stepfather who exhibited abusive behavior towards his mother.
During the podcast interview, the actor revealed, “My stepfather was a bit abusive, not towards me but more so towards my mom. I would observe it, and my uncles were often immersed in intoxication, living in this negative world.”
Almasi went on to discuss how this challenging environment left a lasting impact on his perception of masculinity, as he lacked positive male role models in his life. His biological father’s absence during his formative years resulted in a negative view of masculine energy, with little effort made to establish a connection between father and son.
The actor expressed, “I didn’t have a good example of men in my life. My biological father left when I was young, and he didn’t actively try to connect with me during my youth. So, I always had a bitter taste in my mouth whenever I thought about masculine energy.”
Living in the United Kingdom now, Almasi elaborated on how the absence of positive male figures during his childhood influenced his understanding of masculinity. He shared, “My awareness of masculine energy was that you put up a front; you didn’t show vulnerability.”
As he continued to reflect on his journey, Almasi highlighted the transformation in his perspective as he encountered mature and confident male figures who were open about their emotions. He emphasized the shift from his previous understanding of masculinity, stating, “Now I’m in this space where I encounter examples of men who are mature, confident within themselves, capable of expressing emotions. I decided to take the leap and explore this different perspective.”
