Vishal Jethwa On Cannes Debut: ‘Mom Did Jhadoo-Pocha, Dad Sold Nariyal Pani... Was Scared Because Didn’t Know English’

Actor Vishal Jethwa, whose film 'Homebound' recently made waves at the Cannes Film Festival, has shared a deeply personal account of the anxiety he battled before attending the prestigious event.

Vishal Jethwa spoke about the internal struggles he faced, including fear of English and self-doubt.

Source : Instagram/@vishaljethwa06

Actor Vishal Jethwa, whose film 'Homebound' recently made waves at the Cannes Film Festival, has shared a deeply personal account of the anxiety he battled before attending the prestigious event. In a recent interview, Vishal spoke about the internal struggles he faced, including fear of English and self-doubt, and how overcoming them helped him embrace the international spotlight with confidence.

Vishal Jethwa was scared for his Cannes debut

“I was really scared… even before I reached there, I was extremely nervous… because I’ve always had this weakness, how will I talk to people in English? I was completely unfamiliar with the environment, and everyone I was going with was very experienced. I was really scared about how I would present myself in front of everyone. In fact, I was feeling so low before going to Cannes, the pressure was so intense that I thought of backing out,” Vishal was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

The actor recalled how a few conversations with well-wishers helped shift his mindset before the trip. “I wasn’t worried about what I might lose. I had made up my mind. But after talking to a few people who counselled me, I automatically gained a lot of confidence. Once I reached there, there was this energy that was driving me. I was wearing my confidence before I wore my attire, and that was the most important thing. That’s why, when I got there, I was enjoying myself, I was living the moment… because I had nothing to lose.”

Vishal Jethwa on his humble beginnings

Now working with major studios like Yash Raj Films and Dharma Productions, Vishal remains grounded in his roots. He spoke of growing up in financial hardship and how his family’s resilience shaped his perspective.

“I come from a very poor family… and I was actually confident there because my sister told me before I left, ‘Don’t stress so much… because you are the son of a domestic help.’ She literally cleaned people’s homes, did jhadoo-pocha… she sold sanitary pads in a supermarket. My father sold coconut water and I’ve seen all this,” he said. “Today, of course, my life has moved beyond that. And I don’t even realise how big a thing privilege is. Also, we tend to think privilege is only a positive word, that it only brings benefits. But that’s not true. With privilege comes more responsibility.”

Vishal Jethwa on nepotism and earning acceptance

Vishal also weighed in on the ongoing conversation around nepotism, stressing that opportunities alone don’t guarantee success in the film industry.

“Like my co-actors Ishaan and Janhvi, they’ve had privilege in their lives. We tend to think that the opportunities they’ve received mean their lives are sorted — but that’s not true. They have to work just as hard. Many directors’ and producers’ kids have come and gone, but not all have succeeded. It’s about who the audience accepts. So just having privilege doesn’t guarantee anything. They might get the opportunity — sure. We won’t get those same opportunities. We have to deliver extraordinary performances. That’s the difference. But this is not a complaint — just a fact. Because when you work hard and move ahead, that’s when people want to take photos with you.”

Vishal offered a nuanced take on legacy and inherited privilege, looking ahead to the future.

“We feel like their problems are different, but that doesn’t mean their problems are lesser. I want to say something about privilege — if I have a son tomorrow, he’ll get the Jethwa surname, and that will bring him both benefits and disadvantages. So privilege works like that too."