Vishal Jethwa, the actor known for his performances in "Mardaani 2" and "Salaam Venky", recently shared his journey of overcoming insecurities related to the English language. Speaking at the 15th IFP, a multidisciplinary creative festival in Mumbai, Jethwa recounted how his fear of not being fluent in English once loomed so large that it overshadowed his excitement about attending the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.
Jethwa's film, "Homebound," directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and inspired by Basharat Peer's "The New York Times" article "Taking Amrit Home," has garnered acclaim at film festivals like Cannes and the Toronto International Film Festival. The film explores the friendship between a Muslim and a Dalit, played by Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa respectively, who strive for dignity through a police job.
During the IFP session, Jethwa revealed the depth of his initial reluctance to attend Cannes. "The fear of English was of such a level that when we were going to the Cannes film festival I thought, 'Let me not go to Cannes, and that's okay for me'," he confessed. He felt intimidated by his peers, assuming they were more knowledgeable and articulate in English. "That was because I thought my contemporaries, Ishaan, Janhvi, Neeraj sir and Karan sir, know everything, and I don't know anything," Jethwa explained.
Jethwa also shared how he used to be afraid to talk in front of people, because he couldn't speak English very well and wondered how would he present himself in front of people.
However, Jethwa's perspective shifted over time. He drew inspiration from his character, Chandan, in "Homebound," internalizing the importance of self-acceptance. "I took one thing from Chandan, accepting your identity," he said. Jethwa realized that his worth was not tied to his fluency in English. "Later, I felt it is not about English, it is about accepting your identity," he stated. "Then I felt comfortable. It is about accepting who you are and accepting the other person. Don't look at the caste, religion, nationality, or colour of the person".
In a conversation with The Quint, Jethwa expressed that he always feared that if he didn't speak in English, he would be presenting himself as less competent in the industry. Jethwa shared how the self-acceptance of his character helped him overcome his insecurity, saying, “I was afraid of speaking English, especially in an industry that views the language as 'classy'. So, I always felt I was lesser than the rest". He added, “It's not that I couldn't speak English at all, but the fear and insecurities would take over and make me uncomfortable. I didn't know then that the real secret was simply accepting yourself".
This realization marked a turning point for Jethwa, boosting his confidence and allowing him to embrace his authentic self. He now understands that true connection lies in accepting oneself and others, irrespective of language, caste, religion, or background. Jethwa's journey is a testament to the power of self-acceptance and the importance of recognizing one's inherent worth beyond linguistic abilities.
