The Homebound Actor Vishal Jethwa Spills The Tea on His Survival Tactics to Jitesh Pillaai

You may remember the chill he sent down spines as the lean, feral antagonist of Mardaani 2, a performance so precise it announced the arrival of a formidable screen presence. But that turn did not emerge from nowhere. Long before the big screen took notice, Jethwa honed his craft on television, playing layered characters in shows like Bharat Ka Veer Putra – Maharana Pratap and Chandragupta Maurya, where restraint, physicality and emotional control were his early teachers. Since then, he has shown a striking range, vulnerable and aching in Salaam Venky and simmering with suppressed conflict in Homebound. He has always been alert to the inner weather of his characters. Sitting across from him now, I’m struck by the contrast: a gentle, thoughtful young man, and an actor capable of startling power. Sensitivity, it turns out, is his greatest strength. Excerpts from a soulful interview…

What did working in Homebound teach you?

Before this, I didn’t know that topics like casteism and religious issues had unknowingly become so rooted in our society that we don’t even realise it. Now I understand that there are some things in society that we tend to ignore, maybe on purpose. If what Homebound showed wasn’t relatable, then it wouldn’t have impacted so many people. Everywhere we went, be it Cannes, Canada, the US or the UK, people were crying during the screenings. They felt a connection even when casteism is absent in these places and they were also getting a sense
of hope.

Did you speak to Basharat Peer, who wrote the article on which Homebound is based?

No. We just knew that it was based on a true story. Nor did we speak to Mohammad Saiyub who is in Dubai,
I think. We did what Neeraj Ghaywan sir asked us to do. We didn’t go beyond trusting his judgement. You have to tell an entire life story in two hours, and in those two hours, you have to do what’s written on your paper. I am simply a director’s actor. I change myself according to every director. I don’t have a rigid formula of my own. This is a guru mantra given by Aditya Chopra sir. When I met him for the first time, he told me to just surrender myself to the director. Performing is a journey from zero to zero. You’re blank when you first get the script. And on the sets too, when the director yells ‘Action’, you again start at zero and just follow his instructions. Then on to the next film. Don’t carry what you’ve done before into your next project. Again, start from zero.

There is one scene in the film where the government official in charge of recruitment humiliates you because of your caste…

My character understands that he’s being humiliated, but he’s powerless to do anything. He wants to retaliate but cannot. That is something universal. Everyone, maybe because of their skin colour, religion, caste or even sexuality, has experienced some form of animosity. And it’s not only external; there are internal issues involved as well. For example, someone belonging to the LGBTQ community would think a hundred times before coming out in front of society because they fear judgement and alienation. But the irony is that the only way to stop external forces from controlling you is to first and foremost accept your own truth completely. This is who I am. God has made me like this. And the responsibility of society is that it should also try to make you comfortable, because everyone has the right to live happily.

In real life, have you ever faced any humiliation because of your caste, as shown in Homebound?

Homebound has changed me in many ways, and it has changed my career graph too. People are looking at me in a certain way now, and I feel blessed. But the way I used to look at society before signing the film and after doing it has totally changed. I used to feel that because my English wasn’t very good, I was lesser than others. To an extent that when we were going to Cannes, I remember hoping that my going there would get cancelled. Because the actor friends who were with me, the people who were coming with me, our entire team had seen a lot of the world. I don’t come from that world. I come from a very different world. How would I meet people there? What would I talk about? I would always be uncomfortable. At night, the AC was running at the lowest temperature, and yet I was sweating. I realised it was not about language. It is about your identity. It is about accepting who you are and being comfortable with yourself.

But why were you not comfortable with yourself?

I thought being humble and feeling lesser were the same thing. But then
I realised that being humble does not mean you are less than others. You can be humble and, at the same time, make your point. In so many interviews, especially during Salaam Venky and even during Mardaani. I used
to feel so scared that I blanked out many times.

You’ve worked with Rani Mukerji and Kajol. How did these superstars put you at ease?

When I met Rani ma’am for the first time, she told me, ‘We will be friends on set; if you have any kind of problem, you just come to me.’ However, I couldn’t bring myself to do that throughout the shoot. I just wanted to focus on my work. I’ve noticed that every big star has their own environment and their own zone; when you try to push your way into it, it can be a turn-off. They have their own space and they will eventually let you in. Even otherwise, outside the industry too, when you show a lot of desperation, it’s a turn-off.
I believe you should keep a distance and slowly build the relationship.

You mentioned comfort. Has any co-star, without naming them, made
you uncomfortable?

Oh yes. It happens many times. Not just actors, even some directors can make you feel uncomfortable. Why? There can be many different reasons. Maybe the other person is insecure. Maybe they don’t like your behaviour. Or maybe you are not able to connect with their point of view. At such times, I stay quiet and let things pass. I know I have to deal with it only for a short time. You shouldn’t make it personal because you have a life beyond films. It’s okay if you don’t gel with a co-star. You should remain professional and move on.

In Salaam Venky, you’re on the bed for almost 90 per cent of the film. How do you relate to Kajol as an actor? What kind of dynamic did you share?

I’ve been a fan of Kajol ma’am since childhood, and now I was playing her son, so you can imagine my state of mind. I was a little uncomfortable initially because of the awe factor. But she made me feel at ease. After two or three days, our comfort level was so high that we started chatting regularly. She’s a warm person and always reached out to me.

Do you feel a difference when a woman director directs you, like Revathi did in Salaam Venky?

I used to feel that a female director understands emotions better than a male director. To some extent, this may be true. However, after working with Neeraj sir in Homebound, I realised this is a myth. He understands emotions equally well. I don’t think gender is the deciding factor; rather, it’s about who understands the script better. Everything depends on that depth of understanding.

How has your family reacted to your stardom and fame?

Everyone is happy and proud. I come from a lower-middle-class background. There have been incidents in our lives when we had to sell our house. Now we have returned to a life of normalcy.
This industry has given me everything.
I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this through any other profession.

What kind of roles are being offered to you now? And can you afford to say no?

I can say no to certain kinds of films, but I am the main earning member of my family, so I can’t wait too long to sign a film. You shouldn’t wait too long between projects because, in this industry, out of sight means out of mind. I want to play the lead in a Sanjay Leela Bhansali film. Secondly, I want to do a romantic comedy.

Have the intense roles you’ve performed ever affected your mental health?

During Mardaani,
I was affected badly. I took workshops to understand my role better and give it depth. It was a very dark role, and I used to get headaches after the workshops because of the intensity. I wore the same clothes for around two months for the sake of authenticity and avoided using soap while bathing. All these things take a toll on you.

Which actors inspire you?

I admire Nawazuddin Siddiqui sir a lot. I discovered Irrfan Khan sir quite late, but ever since then, I’ve been a fan.
I also like Sanjay Mishra sir. Among commercial actors, I admire Akshay Kumar sir, Ranveer Singh and Hrithik Roshan sir.