Homebound Would Be 'Impossible' Without Janhvi Kapoor, Says Neeraj Ghaywan: 'Emotional Core Of Film'

Janhvi Kapoor recently won a Best Actress award, and her Homebound director, Neeraj Ghaywan, was all praise for her. As Janhvi took the stage to lift her trophy for Homebound, Neeraj lauded her and said

that the film would not have been possible without her, as she was the emotional core of the story.

Neeraj Ghaywan said, “I’m feeling so happy to see Janhvi getting this award. It means a lot to me. Without you, this film would have been impossible.” He continued, “Janhvi, you bring the emotional core of the film, and seeing you take this award and accept it with such grace, it’s just sheer happiness.”

Neeraj Ghaywan : Without Janhvi, Homebound would have been impossible
byu/saurabhagarwal8 inBollyBlindsNGossip

When Janhvi won her award, she also thanked the director. “I’m extremely grateful to Neeraj Sir for seeing something in me that, on most days, I can’t see in myself,” she said. Janhvi added, “I think this man is a national treasure. He is hands down my favourite person… He makes me feel so seen, and I think that if you see this film or everything he’s made…”

The actress said, “One of the superpowers he has is that he makes people feel seen, which I think is a lost art in today’s day and age. You know what? I hope to god a part of him has been preserved.”

Homebound is a critically acclaimed 2025 Indian Hindi-language drama film written and directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, marking his powerful follow-up to Masaan. The film tells an emotionally charged story of two childhood friends from a small village whose shared ambition to become police officers unfolds into a compelling exploration of friendship, caste, identity and the struggles of marginalised communities in contemporary India.

Produced under the Dharma Productions banner, Homebound brings together a prestigious production team including Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, Somen Mishra and Vipin Agnihotri, with Martin Scorsese attached as an executive producer. The film stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor in lead roles, delivering nuanced performances that anchor the narrative’s emotional depth.