For actor Vishal Jethwa, the new year has always symbolized simplicity, family, and togetherness, steering clear of loud celebrations and extravagant parties.
Reflecting on the upcoming New Year, Vishal emphasized the importance of being with family as the year begins. He shared, “I’ve always celebrated New Year with my family, and being together at the start of a new year feels truly special to me. It’s a reminder that we’ll continue welcoming each year side by side. I’ve never been someone who believes in big, flashy parties; I prefer celebrating quietly with family, either at home or by stepping out together.”
This year, however, is marked by a poignant change. For the first time, Vishal will welcome the New Year without his mother, who is currently in London.
“Things are a little different because my mother won’t be with us; she’s currently in London. It had always been my dream to take her there, and during the promotions of ‘Homebound’ in London, I was finally able to do that,” he noted.
He added, “She’s been there for over 25–30 days now, living some of the happiest days of her life and thoroughly enjoying her holiday.”
Taking his mother to London was a long-held aspiration for Vishal. He expressed, “Watching her fulfill this dream has been incredibly fulfilling for me. At the same time, I do miss her deeply, as this will be the first New Year I’ll be celebrating without her by my side.”
Vishal’s film “Homebound,” directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan, has been shortlisted for the upcoming Oscar awards.
“Homebound” will compete in the ‘Best International Feature Film’ category alongside a diverse range of films, including Argentina’s “Belen,” Brazil’s “The Secret Agent,” France’s “It Was Just an Accident,” Germany’s “Sound of Falling,” Iraq’s “The President’s Cake,” Japan’s “Kokuho,” Jordan’s “All That’s Left of You,” Norway’s “Sentimental Value,” Palestine’s “Palestine 36,” South Korea’s “No Other Choice,” Spain’s “Sirat,” Switzerland’s “Late Shift,” Taiwan’s “Left-Handed Girl,” and Tunisia’s “The Voice of Hind Rajab.”