The Cannes Film Festival, a glamorous affair known for celebrating cinematic achievements, recently became the backdrop for a controversy involving the cast of the film Homebound. Actors Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khatter, and Vishal Jethwa attended the festival for their film's premiere, which garnered a nine-minute standing ovation. However, a viral video clip from one of their interviews has sparked a wave of criticism, with many accusing Janhvi and Vishal of being disrespectful towards Ishaan.
The video shows Ishaan Khatter actively engaging with a journalist, answering a question about Homebound. Seated beside him are Janhvi Kapoor and Vishal Jethwa, who appear to be engrossed in their own private conversation. Janhvi is seen whispering into Vishal's ear, and he responds, seemingly oblivious to Ishaan's ongoing interview, despite being part of the same media interaction. This perceived disregard for Ishaan's contribution to the interview quickly ignited a firestorm of disapproval online.
Netizens were quick to express their disappointment and anger. Social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), were flooded with comments criticizing Janhvi and Vishal's behavior. Many users pointed out the basic courtesy of not interrupting or distracting when someone is giving an interview. Comments ranged from calling the behavior "rude" and "unprofessional" to more pointed remarks. Some users expressed feeling the need to "school them like a teacher," while others suggested Ishaan should "run" from the situation, implying a toxic environment.
The incident has also brought renewed attention to the dynamic between Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter, who were previously linked romantically during their debut film, Dhadak (2018). Some observers noted Janhvi's seeming coldness towards Ishaan at Cannes, with one Reddit user commenting on a separate video where Janhvi appeared to ignore Ishaan's gesture of assistance on the red carpet. This has led to speculation about a strained relationship between the former co-stars. It’s worth noting that since Dhadak, Ishaan has been linked to Ananya Panday, and is currently rumored to be dating Malaysian model Chandni Bainz. Janhvi, on the other hand, seems to have rekindled her friendship with Shikhar Pahariya.
Amidst the online backlash, Vishal Jethwa has spoken out to address the allegations of rudeness. In an exclusive interview with Zoom, Vishal clarified that there was no intentional disrespect towards Ishaan. He explained that during the interview, he was having difficulty understanding the question being asked due to the language barrier. He stated that Ishaan was helping him understand the question, and he was talking to Janhvi to further clarify what was being asked. Vishal emphasized his respect for Ishaan and expressed gratitude for learning from him. He stated, “Aisa bilkul bhi nahi hai. Uss waqt Ishaan mujhe help kar raha tha kyunki main voh question understand nahi kar pa raha tha. Vahan language issue yeh bhi hai ki log French mein baat karte hai. Uska translation English mein aur English mein bhi kaise baat karni hai main samajh nahi pa raha tha. Ishaan ne answer dena shuru kiya till the time I was talking to Janhvi to understand what they were asking me. Aisa zara bhi nahi hai main Ishaan ki bohot respect karta hu. Main bohot thankful hu kyunki main usse bohot kuch seekhta hu.”
Whether Vishal's explanation will quell the controversy remains to be seen. The incident serves as a reminder of how heavily scrutinized celebrities are, and how quickly a perceived misstep can turn into a public relations crisis. Despite the controversy, Homebound's successful premiere at Cannes, complete with a nine-minute standing ovation, highlights the film's potential and the talent of its cast.
