Filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound received a lot of international acclaim earlier this year. But the film clinched its biggest triumph when it was selected as India’s official entry for the Oscars. It has also been impressing audiences ever since it was released in theatres. The performances of Vishal Jethwa and Ishaan Khatter are also been talked about and appreciated.

EXCLUSIVE: Vishal Jethwa on the message of oneness in Homebound, “We will grow only when we look at everyone as humans, instead of focussing on their religion or surname”; recalls Aditya Chopra’s 1st reaction to his act in Mardaani 2: “He said, ‘No beta…’”

In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, Vishal Jethwa got talking about the experience of shooting Homebound, his changed view towards those who are discriminated on the basis of their surname and why Aditya Chopra holds so much significance in his life.

What is your reaction to the response Homebound has been receiving?

I am very happy and proud. At the same time, this also gives me a little bit more responsibility and pressure that next time I will have to do equally well or even better. Now, there will be more eyes on me. Toh unki nazaron mein mujhe girna nahin hai. I also have a fear about this.

The film has won international acclaim in festivals and now it has also been selected for the Oscars. How much of this were you expecting when you were shooting the film?

I was hearing on our sets that we can go to Cannes with this film and we can plan how to present the film there. So, I was expecting that. But I hadn’t thought about TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival). And honestly speaking, I hadn’t even thought about Oscars ever in my life! I have become a part of those 0.1 % of actors whose films are associated with the Oscars. I am still in disbelief as I haven’t got any time to process this news. Gradually, I will be able to accept it.

How did your casting happen for one of the leads in this film?

I got a call from Jogi (Malang) ji’s team. He is the casting director for the film. I had initially tested for Shoaib’s character, but I wasn’t selected. After 2-3 months I got a call saying that, although I couldn’t get in for Shoaib’s character, they would like to test me for Chandan’s character. I said, okay, let me try. I told myself that now that I have got another chance to be a part of this film, I don’t want to let go of the opportunity.

But I faced a challenge as my leg got hurt in an accident. So, I went for the audition with stitches. When they called me for the next round, my leg had even got operated. Then I think they liked it. They had called me and Ishaan to meet Neeraj sir. They wanted to see the chemistry and how both of us look like friends on screen. Then I think they felt that I am fit for Chandan. Then they cast me.

In the film, your character faces discrimination because of his caste. Neeraj Ghaywan has also faced this in real life. Did he share his experiences with you before or during the shoot?

He openly speaks that there was a time when he was scared to reveal who he is and from where does he belong. He has included the same fear in Chandan’s character. He is also fearful of revealing his full name. So, Chandan’s character has some resemblance to Neeraj sir’s real life. Even the way Chandan eats Biryani. So, Chandan’s character is a part of Neeraj sir’s life. He shared with us a lot of things. He also asked us to read the book ‘The Annihilation of Caste’ (by Dr BR Ambedkar). He took us to a lot of villages and asked us to speak with the people over there. He told us not to perform but live the character. We also had workshops. He also told us about what he used to feel.

But to tell you truthfully, I understood everything more after I watched the final film, learnt about people’s reactions and the way I looked at the society from then onwards.

So, what did you feel after knowing that people are still discriminated in our society because of their caste and religion?

I have now been able to understand the feelings of all such people, who are kept in that spot and judged because of their surname, religion or belief system. I am able to understand more about what kind of fear they must be feeling. I feel we should come out of this very soon if we wish to move forward. Even as a person, we will grow only when we go above these differences and look at everyone as humans, instead of their belief system or surname. If we come out of this, it will be easier for us to live life, relax and not hold grudges against anyone. This is because then we won’t look at someone through their surname but through humanity. This is a very important aspect which I feel people should imbibe after watching the film.

How was your rapport with your co-stars Ishaan Khatter and Janhvi Kapoor on and off set?

I would say that if I have got two gifts in life through this film, they are Ishaan Khatter and Janhvi Kapoor. I connected with both of them. We became each other’s well-wishers. All three of us have had different upbringings. We all come from different backgrounds, whether it’s family, finance or position. But there was one thing common in all of us, which made us friends, is that we respect each other’s point of view. The two of them (Ishaan and Janhvi) were already good friends but I wasn’t. But I was able to connect with both of them. They also gave me a very safe environment. I hope I have been able to give the same to them.

You started off with television and from there you have gradually moved into cinema. How do you look at your journey so far?

I feel proud looking at my journey. I also get inspired through my own journey. Whenever there are days where I feel low and there is a concern of what lays in the future, I think about my own journey and think that if I have been able to come this far, what is the problem to go even further, considering now I have a better positioning (in the industry) and I have also made a name for myself. I look at it in this way and I am very happy that my journey has been beautiful with its ups and downs. When I look back I realize that the failures and rejections have helped me more in becoming a better human being and artiste than success. So, now I am even ready to happily accept challenges with my full heart.

Your first break out role in films was in Mardaani 2, which was a Yash Raj Film movie. How important has Aditya Chopra been in your journey?

His importance is a lot! He was the one who brought the turning point in my life. He must have had a final call to cast me in Mardaani 2. So, I feel I will never be able to repay him for this. I will always be thankful to him and remember that he launched me in films. There are very few actors in Bollywood who have got a launch through Yash Raj. I always had a dream to visit Yash Raj Studio and have a look at it from inside. But to get launched by them was completely unexpected for me.

I will always remember two things that he told me in our first meeting. He asked me to surrender to the director. He said once you do this, everything else will happen automatically. I have been doing this. And after completing the film (Mardaani 2), he was happy that I had done some good work in it. I asked him whether I have performed as per his expectations. He said, “No beta, more than my expectations.” I was like, “Wow yeh kya comment hai, aur woh bhi Aditya Chopra se!”

What are your expectations from the Oscars?

I want it to win the Best Film award. I want our film to be the best.

What next after Homebound?

I am open to all kinds of films. Whichever best possible film comes into my life, I will accept it. I won’t keep that pressure and excitement that a film of mine has gone to the Oscars, so I can’t accept a smaller film. I want to give a new start for myself from here and look at each day in a new way. The films I shot before Homebound, I don’t know when they will be out. Hopefully, they should be out this year. Plus, I have been reading scripts and hearing narrations these days. I will finalize something very soon.

Also Read: Taran Adarsh praises Ishaan Khatter in Homebound; calls it his ‘career-defining’ masterpiece

More Pages: Homebound Box Office Collection , Homebound Movie Review

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