Ishaan Makes Viewers Sit Up With a Brilliant Performance

Homebound, also starring Janhvi Kapoor and Vishal Jethwa, is produced by Karan Johar, with legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese sharing credits as Executive producer.

Days before he left for Cannes, Ishaan, in conversation with Deccan Chronicle, had described Homebound as a special film, and his most challenging part to date. The story is of two childhood friends, Mohd Shoaid (Ishaan Khatter) and Chandan Kumar (Vishal Jethwa), who decide that the road to respectability and equality runs through getting a job in the police force. But the road is fraught with challenges, and the biggest victim could well be the friendship they have nurtured over the years.

As he seamlessly switches from the opulence of The Royals — best described as snackable viewing — to the emotionally-charged space of Homebound, Ishaan reveals he had to lose 8 to 10 kilos to get into Shohaib’s character. “This was two months after I finished The Royals, where people thought there was a certain maturity in my appearance. But for Homebound I had to play a 21-year-old boy. It was deep diving into a different process. But it is fun, this is what keeps you alive, that’s the job,” says Ishaan.

Explaining that he was able to dive into the roles because they came to him at a time when he was ready for them, the actor says, “I'm very excited to share this phase of my work. After The Royals, I am really excited for people to see the opposite end of the spectrum and a very different character with Homebound.”

Having made his debut in Majid Majidi’s Beyond the Clouds, Ishaan set foot in Bollywood with Dhadak in 2018. Even though his performances in films such as Khaali Peelli, Phone Booth and Pippa were appreciated, box office success has eluded him.

Film critic Joginder Tuteja says the actor is yet to crack the Bollywood code. “He started well Dhadak, but didn’t do any mainstream Hindi films. He has done a lot of niche content, and was very good in the international web series that he has been part of. He is visible, and has made his presence felt. But he needs to do a lot more mainstream stuff. Maybe he should try commercial ensemble projects, or an action film. He has age on his side, he looks very young, and time is definitely on his side.”

Ishaan’s range as an actor has been evident in his varied projects. His digital debut in Mira Nair’s A Suitable Boy (2020) won him critical acclaim. His role as the mysterious wedding guest in the thriller The Perfect Couple, and his recent onscreen outings showcase him as a performer who continues to polish his acting talents.

“For me a lot of thought goes into the work that I take up. I always listen to audience feedback and it is very important to me that I take what’s constructive from it and move forward,” he says, adding, “But, at the same time, it’s a very instinctive feeling – you can’t be academic about what you’re taking on next, because, no matter what you feel, and despite ticking all the boxes, it could still go south. The most successful director in the world could give you their most unsuccessful project as your next, or it could be the most artistic and amazing script, but badly executed. So that’s the risk you willingly take with every project. It’s the collective energy of everybody that makes a project into something. It’s never a one- man show, and it can’t be so. I have been lucky to get the opportunities I was ready for and am looking forward to as an actor,” he says.