At the special press conference for Homebound, actor Vishal Jethwa shared his passionate approach toward acting and what made working on this film such a unique experience. Known for his intense roles, Vishal described himself as a “greedy actor” eager to explore every kind of character and genre.
“People have often seen me in certain types of roles, and sometimes it’s easier or safer for others to cast me in similar parts. But I’m a very greedy actor — I don’t want to limit myself to any one genre or character type. Life itself gives me experiences that I draw from whenever I work, and that’s exactly what I did here.”
Vishal revealed a mantra given to him by veteran filmmaker Aditya Chopra, which became his guiding principle on Homebound: “He told me, ‘Surrender yourself completely to your director.’ That’s something I still follow, and it helped me a lot in this film.”
He expressed deep admiration for director Neeraj Ghaywan, emphasizing the exhaustive research and care Neeraj put into the film’s subject. “When I met Neeraj sir, I realized he had spent so much time on this subject — probably more knowledge than anyone else I know. He practices what he preaches, which is why you trust what he says and the films he makes.”
Vishal spoke about the film’s reception internationally at festivals like Cannes, Toronto (TIFF), and Melbourne.
“The response was the same everywhere because the film deals with universal truths. Neeraj sir’s storytelling transcends cultural boundaries.”
He explained how the trio — Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor, and himself followed Neeraj’s direction wholeheartedly. “Sir never wants us to just act and move on. He dislikes that attitude. He wants us to truly understand and live the character. We did our best to embody the emotions and nuances at every level.”
Homebound is a 2025 Hindi drama film written and directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, based on a 2020 New York Times article by Basharat Peer. It stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, and follows two childhood friends from rural India striving to pass the national police exam, confronting systemic challenges and personal dilemmas along the way.
Having premiered to acclaim at Cannes, Toronto, and Melbourne, Homebound is scheduled to release across India on 26th September 2025.