Ishaan Khatter shared his excitement about ‘Homebound’ being India’s submission for the 2026 Oscars, expressing his strong support for the film’s subject matter and Neeraj Ghaywan’s direction. He believes the film deserves the opportunity to be recognized on a larger scale. Reflecting on his career journey, Khatter expressed his gratitude for the encouragement and support he has received, which fuels his artistic choices. He credits Neeraj Ghaywan for giving him a role that allowed him to showcase his full potential, comparing it to his experience with Majid Majidi. Khatter valued the experience and the opportunity to be involved in the project.
Khatter shared how he was offered the role of Shoaib. He received the script from Neeraj and was informed of the project by Karan Johar. He immediately recognized the subject’s significance and found the script to be exceptional. He connected deeply with the character’s journey. Addressing the challenge of portraying an underprivileged character, Khatter spoke about the privilege he has. He highlighted the film’s exploration of societal standards and its depiction of gender inequality within a household. He detailed the research and immersion undertaken, including visiting villages to connect with the characters’ experiences. He credited Neeraj Ghaywan’s role in shaping his performance, calling Ghaywan a methodical magician. He found the location shooting essential for authenticity, while acknowledging the difficulties of the highway settings. Khatter regards ‘Homebound’ as the highlight of his career, emphasizing its broader significance and how it advocates for empathy in a divided world. He elaborated on how portraying Shoaib helped him understand how people deal with ‘othering’ and how the film helped him understand identity on a deeper level. He expressed his desire to keep challenging himself as an actor and use his platform to support his beliefs and desires.