Vishal Jethwa says he would love to work in South Indian films

In the past month, a lot has happened in Vishal Jethwa’s professional life. First, his movie Homebound was selected as India’s official entry to the 2026 Academy Awards, followed by its domestic release that earned him wide praise. With success on his side, what does the actor wish for now? Regional cinema.     
Jethwa asserts that diversity is imperative to become a pan-India actor, which is his next goal. He shares, “Language should never be a barrier when it comes to storytelling. Today, the boundaries between Hindi and regional cinema are dissolving. I would love to work in South Indian films, and in my mother tongue, Gujarati. I’d prefer to be known as a pan-India actor rather than a Bollywood actor.” 

Something else is on his wish list too — lighter movies. “The experience of being part of a film like Homebound will always be close to my heart. But I’m always hungry to explore newer genres. I’ve mostly been part of socially-driven dramas or intense characters,” notes the actor, who first made a splash with his villainous turn in Mardaani 2 (2019) and followed it up with Salaam Venky (2022). “I am yet to explore the space of romance, dance, and music on screen. I’d love to do a film where I can express love, joy, and passion through songs, dance, and lighter emotions, something that makes people smile and feel good.”

Dec 16
When the Academy Awards will announce its 15-film shortlist for the Best International Feature Film, revealing the fate of India’s entry ‘Homebound’