Indian actor Ishaan Khatter has made his Cannes debut with Homebound, a powerful new drama directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and co-starring Janhvi Kapoor and Vishal Jethwa.
The film’s premiere at the prestigious festival marks a major milestone in Ishaan’s evolving career, reports NDTV.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Ishaan reflected on the sharp shift from his recent polished role as Prince Aviraaj Singh in The Royals to the emotionally raw character in Homebound. "To be honest, it was... tough," he admitted, describing the mental and physical toll of switching between such contrasting roles in a short span.
The transition, he said, demanded deep internal work to fully embody his new role. “It was hard to detach myself from the character,” Ishaan noted, explaining how he had to lose weight and undergo a complete transformation under Ghaywan’s direction. He spent two immersive months filming in Madhya Pradesh to prepare for the part.
Despite the intense process, Ishaan said the film’s warm reception at Cannes made every challenge worth it. Produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, and Somen Mishra—with Hollywood icon Martin Scorsese as the executive producer — Homebound is already drawing international attention.
Ishaan’s Cannes debut not only marks a career high but also highlights his growing versatility and global reach as an actor.
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
