Ishaan Khatter reveals director Neeraj Ghaywan wanted him to lose all the muscles for Homebound: 'He told me I don’t want to see a single sinew on your body get rid of it all...'

Ishaan Khatter on Homebound role

Actor Ishaan Khatter is getting a lot of praise for his performance in Homebound, which debuted at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section.

In addition to captivating viewers around the world, Neeraj Ghaywan's film received a 9-minute standing ovation after its premiere, which is evidence of its potent storytelling and emotional impact.

Ishaan shared details of his life-changing experience in preparation for the role in a recent interview with film journalist Sucharita Tyagi. Speaking of his first encounter with Ghaywan, Ishaan recalled how unexpected the director's first directive was.

“The first thing that he said to me out of all the beautiful things was, ‘You got to lose the muscles!’ I was like, yeah, I can do that, it is easier for me to look like that, and he was like, ‘No, no.. Ishaan please! I don’t want to see a single sinew on your body!’ Get rid of it all!”

Ishaan had recently finished a project that required a toned body, The Royals. It took a lot of mental and physical adjustment to get used to a more natural, unpolished appearance. However, the change was crucial to his ability to completely embody the emotionally unfiltered, grounded character needed for Homebound.

Speaking further about Neeraj Ghaywan’s style, Ishaan described him as an incredibly focused filmmaker. “He is a very unique director. He has a singular vision and does not leave a stone unturned in approaching it with complete devotion. He is one of the rare directors that is involved in every step of your process as an actor, which I really appreciated,” he added.

Also Read: Cannes 2025: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khatter, Karan Johar and Homebound team dazzle on the red carpet, watch video 

Homebound, which also stars Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, tells the tale of two young men from a North Indian village who have the same goal in life: to become government police officers. As their journey progresses, the strain of expectation and ambition starts to put their close friendship to the test.

Homebound has established itself as a noteworthy Indian entry at this year's Cannes thanks to its powerful performances, moving narrative, and widespread acclaim.