'I Was Insecure Because I Didn’t Speak English': ‘Homebound’ Actor Vishal Jethwa

‘Homebound’ helps Vishal Jethwa accept his identity in an industry where he once felt lesser.

Neeraj Ghaywan, Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa sit down with The Quint to talk about Homebound

(Photo Courtesy: The Quint)

Homebound, written and directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, starring Ishaan Khatter, Jahnvi Kapoor, and Vishal Jethwa, is India's official entry for the 2026 Oscars.

Produced by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions with legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese as an executive producer, the film releases in theatres in India on September 26.

The cast and director of the film sat down with The Quint to discuss Jethwa’s insecurity about not speaking English in an industry where the language is considered 'classy', Khatter’s versatility as an actor, how Scorsese’s advice led to “the biggest hurt” of Ghaywan’s career, and the silences the director faced growing up as a Dalit that shaped the film.

Not every film changes an actor, but a few do—and Homebound was one such film for Vishal Jethwa. He spoke about the profound personal shift it brought to his confidence and self-acceptance.

I always feared that if I didn't speak in English, I would be presenting myself as less competent in this industry.

Vishal Jethwa

Jethwa shared how the self-acceptance of his character helped him overcome his insecurity, saying, “I was afraid of speaking English, especially in an industry that views the language as ‘classy’. So, I always felt I was lesser than the rest.”

He added, “It’s not that I couldn’t speak English at all, but the fear and insecurities would take over and make me uncomfortable. I didn’t know then that the real secret was simply accepting yourself."

It was challenging for me to accept myself the way I am, to be in this industry.

Vishal Jethwa

When asked about the impact of Scorsese’s creative input on the film and whether it brought about a significant shift, Ghaywan revealed that he followed the filmmaker’s advice and experienced “the biggest hurt of his career,” one he still struggles to reconcile.

I had to part with one of the characters—which was in Ishaan’s track—that I spent the most time writing in this film. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But Mr Scorsese explained that the film is ultimately about friendship, and in the interest of the story, I had to let it go.

Neeraj Ghaywan

Ghaywan, who has previously publicly acknowledged his Dalit identity, shared how the exploration of caste and identity in the film were deeply tied to his personal insecurities and the silences he faced growing up.

"The film (represents) 35 years of me masquerading as someone I was not. It creates this insurmountable amount of insecurity inside you. That fear breaks down your confidence systemically over years. I felt that if I put it out there in a film, maybe I’ll exercise those demons myself."

The Royals actor, Khatter expressed his gratitude to Ghaywan for giving him the opportunity to play Shoaib’s character in the film, saying, “It takes someone to be able to see you like that, to begin with. Otherwise, we are powerless as actors, because those parts of you as a performer remain untapped.”

The film, based on a 2020 New York Times Article by journalist Basharat Peer titled 'A Friendship, A Pandemic, and a Death Beside the Highway', follows the lives of two childhood friends from rural North India, as they try to pass the national police exam.

Watch the full interview here: