Working on a film as emotional as Homebound—which was recently shortlisted for the 2026 Oscars—is bound to create deep connections between actors. However, star Vishal Jethwa recently opened up about a specific boundary he chose to maintain with his co-star, Janhvi Kapoor. Despite the two sharing a close bond and the film receiving a nine-minute standing ovation at Cannes, Vishal revealed that he intentionally avoids bringing up the topic of Janhvi’s late mother, the legendary Sridevi. Even though Vishal and co-star Ishaan Khatter have bonded over their own personal experiences with loss, Vishal feels that bringing it up with Janhvi could be “triggering” and prefers to keep their dynamic focused on positivity and their shared professional milestones.
Vishal’s thoughtful approach stems from a place of deep empathy. In a recent interview, he explained that while he and Ishaan have talked openly about the “layers” of losing a parent, he didn’t want to put Janhvi in a spot where she might feel forced to revisit her grief. This level of maturity has clearly paid off; the trio’s chemistry is the heart of Homebound, a gritty drama directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and executive produced by Martin Scorsese. It’s refreshing to see a young actor prioritize his colleague’s mental peace over “small talk,” proving that their off-screen friendship is just as strong and respectful as it looks on the red carpet.
