Ishaan Khatter Questions CBFC For 'Leniencies Towards Certain Disagreeable Content': Let Voices Be Heard - EXCL

Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound was passed by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) with 11 cuts and 77 seconds shorter than the submitted draft. Starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor,

the film released in theatres on September 26. In an exclusive interview with Zoom, Ishaan reacted to CBFC’s cuts.

Ishaan Khatter reacts to Homebound cuts

The actor who played Shoaib in Homebound, told Zoom, “I wasn't the person who was directly dealing with them; I don't want to give a misinformed view. But as an artist, it's obviously difficult to deal with alterations being made. You do feel like the vision of your film that you come to it with can sometimes stray, change, or get altered. Of course, they have their own barometer that they look at it from. I think certification is something that is certainly very important and relevant, and there are certification boards across the world.”ALSO READ: Homebound Actor Vishal Jethwa Says No Religion Is Good Or Bad: Apni Baat Prove Karne Ke Liye... - Exclusive

Ishaan questions CBFC's barometers

He further added, “But my question is, what are the standards and barometers? Different films are looked at with different standards I feel the audience also feels often that certain films are allowed certain leniencies that are given universal certificates or certificates even though they might have disagreeable content and then you know there are certain social films that give you one perspective on society that should be looked at with the same standards that you're looking another at the opposite opinion with. That kind of agnostic viewing is something we would all appreciate as artists and as audience, where you don't hold different standards for different opinions and different points of view.”Ishaan put across his point by saying, “That's all I would say to that. Otherwise, they're doing their job. There needs to be understanding and empathy from both ends because artists also sometimes can get very possessive and protective about what they're doing. But, let’s allow voices to be heard so long as they're reasonable and rational and they're not indicting hate.”Homebound is India’s official entry to the Oscars 2026. It is the story of two boys and how their friendship stands the test of time despite biases.