Actor Vishal Jethwa’s film “Homebound” has been selected as the official entry for the Oscars in the Best International Feature Film category. He has expressed his eagerness to delve into regional cinema, stating he has never viewed films through the lens of language.
Exploring Regional Cinema
Vishal, who aspires to work in South Indian and Gujarati films, shared his vision as an artist: “I’ve never looked at cinema through the lens of language. A good story can travel anywhere, and I want to be part of that movement. Every regional industry in India has something special — a unique way of expressing emotion, culture, and rhythm. I’d love to explore that, whether it’s Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, or Gujarati cinema.”
Breaking Barriers
He emphasized, “It’s all one big creative universe, and I want to experience it fully. I don’t want to be confined to labels like ‘Hindi actor’ or ‘Bollywood actor.’” Vishal dreams of being “recognised as an Indian actor,” someone who belongs everywhere and to everyone who loves cinema. He remarked, “The beauty of the times we live in is that audiences no longer care where a story comes from; they only care about how it makes them feel.”
Vishal aims to connect with audiences across languages, cultures, and regions through honest performances.
About “Homebound”
Directed by National Award-winner Neeraj Ghaywan, “Homebound” is produced by Dharma Productions. The film follows two childhood friends from a small village in North India who aspire to become police officers, hoping the job will bring them the respect they’ve long desired. However, as they near their goal, pressures and struggles threaten their friendship. The film also stars Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter.
“Homebound” had its world premiere in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it reportedly received a nine-minute standing ovation.
Early Career
Vishal began his acting career in 2013 with the lead role of Akbar in “Bharat Ka Veer Putra – Maharana Pratap.” He was later seen playing Bali in “Sankatmochan Mahabali Hanuman” in 2015, and a pivotal role as a terrorist in “Diya Aur Baati Hum” the following year. Vishal made his Hindi film debut as an antagonist in the 2019 film “Mardaani 2,” co-starring Rani Mukerji.